Many University students consider the spring races at Foxfield the social highlight of the year. Students, alumni and their friends from around the state flock to the horse track in Western Albemarle County every April to enjoy sun, friendly betting, alumni reunions and drinking.
But this year, the event attracted more people than ever before, and many community members think the races have gotten out of control.
Paula Garrett, president of the Central Virginia chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Jill Ingram, a fourth-year College student and the president for youth issues at MADD, attended the races this year and were upset at what they saw in the student section.
Garrett described public drunkenness, marijauna smoking, underage drinking, overcrowding, drunk driving and very little supervision.
Ingram said she saw a girl passed out on the ground with her dress up over her head.
Garrett then filed a complaint with Virginia's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board in late May detailing the violations she saw. ABC is now investigating Foxfield and is expected to issue a report of its findings sometime soon.
"ABC is investigating allegations of violations of the law" in reference to the April races at Foxfield, said Becky Gettings, director of public affairs at ABC.
The investigation could lead to an ABC hearing, which in turn could result in a wide range of penalties including fines or suspension or revocation of Foxfield's liquor license, Gettings said.
ABC would not disclose details of the ongoing investigation or when it is scheduled for completion.
Foxfield has had a Virginia liquor license for equine events for nearly 20 years, allowing spectators over 21 years old to bring alcohol to the race, Foxfield Racing Association President J. Benjamin Dick said.
But this year's high attendance, estimates range from 28,000 to 30,000 spectators, may have caused the event to get out of hand.
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors discussed problems with the Foxfield races at its meeting June 20 but took no action.
Supervisor Charlotte Humphris, whose district includes the racetrack, said the board has received numerous complaints from community members about property damage, urination in yards and drunk drivers.
Mary Pat Hulburt, owner of the Foxfield Inn on Barracks Road, said many drivers on the way to Foxfield who passed her property were out of control.
"It's terrible," Hulburt said. "People come up on our front lawn; they urinate in the yard. The traffic is not the problem, it's the excessive drinking."
According to Ingram, ABC has told her that the races probably do not fall under its jurisdiction, and it will be up to the Board of Supervisors to regulate the races.
A committee made up of community members, law enforcement officers, University representatives and Foxfield representatives will meet to discuss what can be done in August.
Garrett said some possibilities are limiting ticket sales and better enforcing underage drinking and drinking and driving.
But some say Foxfield is already adequately regulated and policed, and further crackdown will cause the event to suffer.
There were only 12 cited incidents of bad behavior inside the Foxfield gates this year and only five were arrests that led to convictions, Dick said.
The incidents were typical of any major sporting event that happens in Virginia, like football games and NASCAR races, he said.
He added that the students should better police themselves and that security probably will be tightened next year.
"I have a feeling that by the next race there will be a crackdown," Dick said.
Third-year College student Angie Payne has attended Foxfield for two years and said there was enough security and law enforcement to keep the event safe.
"In my experience, it hasn't been out of hand enough to provoke losing its liquor license," Payne said.
Third-year College student Jennifer Sage also thought the organizers took lots of safety precautions, "like the safety tents, the taxis, and the fact you can leave your car in the parking lot overnight."
"We're not trying to shut down Foxfield," Ingram said. "We're just trying to prevent the chaos from leading to tragedy"
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