Who doesn’t love a good horse race? Something you hear a lot at Foxfield Horse Races in Charlottesville (at UVA) is the phrase, “I saw a horse!” Foxfield is April 26!As you can imagine, so much tailgating is going on during the horse races that many don’t see horses. My sister is a UVA grad and went to Foxfield every year she was in college, and she has gone every year after. My former frat star father loves going and gets a plot on the rail every year, so we don’t have the chance to miss seeing a horse.

The layout of Foxfield is just as you’d expect. Alumni and semi-civilized people are close to the rail, where they can see and enjoy the horse races. The rail folks have a great view of the student section, which is called the “infield.” It is basically like a giant party on the grass with alcohol on tables, on the ground, people in pickup trucks and lots of Lilly and Vineyard Vines dresses, Tory Burch wedges and monogrammed floppy hats.

Another section comes into play when those who are wandering, and are not in the best state, are picked up by some nice police officers around the grounds. This area is known by my family as “the petting zoo,” an outdoor drunk tank before those people are transferred to the local jail to sober up. Note: if you’re at Foxfield and can’t find your friend, check the porta potty lines and if your friend is not there, check the zoo.

Here are five essentials for a foxy Foxfield Day.

1. Arrive early. If you’re able to drive up and stay in Cville the night before, do it! You want to get to Foxfield early to get all the awesome free stuff. Last year, I left with at least three free Koozis and lots of other cool stuff.

2. Check out all of the booths! If you’ve never heard of a brand that is at Foxfield, check out their booth! They may be giving away free Koozis or have giveaways if you sign up for their email list. They may also have coupons for you to use to get awesome deals on their merchandise.

3. Get free stuff based on what you’re wearing! Really! If you’re planning on wearing Vineyard Vines, stop by the Vineyard Vines area and show them you’re wearing VV. Last year, you could get a free whale hat! The same thing goes if you’re wearing Lilly!

4. Pace yourself. It’s a long day. Make sure you have more in your cooler than just alcohol. Pack some snacks for you and your friends!

5. If you’re 21, keep your ID on you at all times.

Lastly, keep track of your friends. You never want to end an awesome event like Foxfield with picking up a friend from the nearby jail. If you all stick together and make sure you’re eating and not just drinking, then you’re sure to have a great day!

Tickets are $50 and invitation parking is $30! Or you can get one invitation parking pass with five invitation tickets for $250!