June 2009

The first thing to know if you’re going to tailgate at a steeplechase is this; dress the part. The expected attire is much different than Saturday night in Baton Rouge or Sunday afternoon in Daytona. Seersucker suits, bowties and buck shoes are the norm for men, and women break out the sundresses and large, floppy hats. At first glance, this would seem to be a recipe for a stuffed-shirt convention but don’t be deceived – these people are there to party and tailgate!

 

The Carolina Cup is held every March in Camden, SC. Tailgaters buy parking spaces along the outer rails or the infield, with priority going to those who have purchased spaces the greatest number of years. The gates open at 9:00 am and the afternoon series of races starts at 1:30pm. But the dirty little secret is that most people aren’t there to see the horses – they just want to tailgate!

 

Wanda Elkins of Lexington, NC has been planning her Carolina Cup tailgates for nearly a decade. “We’ve got about 32 people in our group and the planning starts in January,” said Elkins. “Each year we have a different theme and everyone chips in both money and suggestions.” For 2009, Elkins’ crew decided to throw a luau, complete with floral leis and umbrella drinks.

 

Not to be outdone, Lee Dutton of Columbia, SC goes for the highbrow tailgate. This year he had salmon from Washington-state flown in for the occasion. Add that to the fine linens and silver tableware and it’s a tailgate fit for a king. Dutton has been attending the steeplechase for 28 years and each one gets bigger and better. “We call our party “The A-List” because everyone who comes to the tailgate is notable,” said Dutton. “All of our friends sign the guestbook, so it’s fun to look back and see who has attended over the years.”

 

Because most of the tailgates and the fashions are a little on the fancy side, Carolina Cup tailgaters don’t do as much on-site cooking as one might find at a football stadium or NASCAR track. Lavida Mickle is the exception to the rule. Mickle’s crew pulled a smoker to the event and cooked pork ribs and chicken.

 

“We actually get guests from all over the world,” said Mickle, a Lugoff, SC native. “I’ve fed people from the United, Kingdom, Africa, you name it. This festive occasion brings people of all walks of life together.”

 

Whether the partiers go with a theme, highbrow or traditional, they all speak the universal language of tailgating; good food and good times!