Review Story

A Day At The Races: Carolina Cup 2014
By: Chelsea Jenkins

Chelsea and her southern gent after arriving
Photo cred: Kristin Miller

It was everything you would imagine and then some.  There were big hats, big parties and fast horses.

The 82nd annual Carolina Cup was held Saturday in Camden, S.C.  This year, the annual event drew more than 70,00 fans from throughout the Carolinas, even more than last year.  Fans enjoyed horses, history and hospitality while celebrating South Carolina’s largest sporting and social event.

“This was my first time at Carolina Cup and I wouldn’t have done anything different,” said Drew Dembosky a High Point University senior.  “Clearly I’ve been missing out.”

A tradition since 1930, "The Cup," is an annual tradition in the Southeast spanning generations.  Recently in past years, it’s rained during the big event but despite the rain the racing association announced that the races would continue rain or shine. 

The morning of the race, the Carolina Cup Racing Association posted on Facebook, “It may be raining but fans are pouring in (literally)— sundresses, hats, bow-ties and all! The races will run rain or shine! The Gates are open!”

Friends arriving at "The Cup"
Photo cred: Caitlin Kane

Arriving at around 11 A.M, despite the morning rain and the mud, the rain finally stopped and thankfully held off for the rest of the afternoon.  Every where from College Park to Hospitality Terrace you could find friends, families and especially college students enjoying the sun together as soon as it came out.

Rain jackets were flying off and sun hats were finally making their appearances.

Walking around in the College Park section all you could see were drunken college students roaming from tent to tent making friends from other schools, and loud music clashing from tent to tent.  There was so much going on at one time it was hard not to have fun and meet new people.

During the first race
Photo cred: Chelsea Jenkins

“It has to have been the most fun I have ever had with my friends,” said Alexandra Louk, second time Carolina Cup attendee.  “I want to go back and do it all over again, but this time I want to see some horses.”

Though not many people were there to see the horses, through the sea of white tents you could see a chain link fence that surrounded the racetracks lined with a surprising amount of students who weren’t just there to get drunk.  They were waiting for the races.

You could just see the excitement on people’s faces as the horses went by.  The horses passed in such a quick flash, that you almost had to stay there for more than one race, which wasn’t difficult as they were run every 30 minutes.

Although, it’s a great event full of friends and fun, there were a few hiccups along the road.  With College Park filled with thousands of college students, underage drinking was pretty prevalent.  Every once a while someone would be seen on a stretcher being taken to the medical tent because they had too much to drink.

Friends enjoying the sunny weather
Photo cred: Joseph DelGuercio

There were hundreds of police officers and paramedics seen both in uniform and undercover trying to do their jobs.  Everything from trying to control the underage drinking which ultimately ended up in arrests and paramedics there whenever someone passed out.

Without the hiccups it wouldn’t be a typical college event.  Students were there to get drunk, maybe see a horse and have fun with their friends.

 All in all, it was a beautiful day at Carolina Cup.