The Virginia Gold Cup is normally marked by sunny afternoons,mint juleps, and smart hats. The mint juleps and stylishhats were present on May 4, and the sun shone brightlythrough the third of the day’s seven races. However, by thestart of the fourth race, it seemed as if all of the guests onMember’s Hill had either ducked into their tail-gating SUVsand limos or rushed the sponsor tents looking for cover fromthe rain. Although the 77th running did not have the record-breakingheat of years past, it did have record-breaking crowdsof ambassadors, prominent business leaders and Washingtonsocialites, all of whom seemed to greatly enjoy the steeplechaseraces that benefit the Meadow Outdoors Foundation.