Central Virginia residents got a chance to bet the Kentucky Derby for the first time in four years Saturday at two new Off Track Betting Centers in the Richmond area — Ponies & Pints downtown, and Breakers Sports Grille in the west end.
Fans filled the Ponies & Pints OTB all afternoon to bet action from Churchill Downs.
Ponies & Pints held a $1,000 Fancy Hat Contest soon after Always Dreaming crossed the finish line to win the Triple Crown’s first leg. Many attendees got creative in their hopes of winning top prize.
Ladies in the Fancy Hat contest prepare to be judged in hopes of winning the $1,000 top prize.
Ponies & Pints took advantage of their parking lot to stage an outdoor party aspect to Derby Day. That aspect enabled the Shockoe Bottom restaurant to handle hundreds of extra customers. After a few late afternoon sprinkles, a rainbow appeared in the sky 20 minutes before Derby post time.
A pre-Derby rainbow followed a few sprinkles 20 minutes before Derby post time.
And the Fancy Fat Contest winner was…
