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 year to enjoy the sun, the friendly betting, the reunion-like gathering, and the drinking. But the drinking has been causing problems for some community members, and an inspection by Virginia's Alcoholic Beverage Control Board may bring an end to the Foxfield tradition as most know it.
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors discussed some of the problems with the Foxfield races at its meeting June 20, but took no action.
Supervisor Charlotte Humphris, whose district includes the racetrack, said Mothers Against Drunk Driving wrote a letter to ABC after some MADD members attended Foxfield in April. The letter then prompted an investigation.
"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 a hearing by ABC which could result in a wide range of penalties including fines or suspension or revocation of Foxfield's liquor license, Gettings said.
Foxfield has had a Virginia liquor license designed for equine events for nearly 20 years, which allows spectators over 21 years old to bring alcohol to the race, said J. Benjamin Dick, president of the Foxfield Racing Association.
But this year's unusually high attendance - estimates range from 28,000 to 30,000 spectators - may have caused the event to get a little out of hand.
Humphris said the Board of Supervisors 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 the people on the road driving to Foxfield past 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."
But some say that Foxfield is already adequately regulated and policed, and further crackdown will cause the event to suffer.
Dick said there were only 12 cited incidents of bad behavior inside the Foxfield gates this year and only five were arrests that led to convictions.
The incidents were typical of any major sporting event that happens in Virginia, like football games and NASCAR races, he said.
He added the students should better police themselves and that security will probably be tightened next year.
"I have a feeling that by the next race there will be a crackdown," he said.
Third-year College student Angie Payne has been going to Foxfield for two years and said she thought 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."
ABC does not disclose details of ongoing investigation or when it will be completed.
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