Last Sunday was my first time at the Queen’s Plate, but it certainly won’t be my last. I loved everything about my experience at the racetrack – from dressing up, to bidding on horses, to people-watching, to enjoying everything the Hats and Horseshoes party had to offer – it was truly a blast!

I did have a moment of panic about 30 minutes before leaving the house…and ended up completely changing my outfit, and also MacGyvering a fascinator from a large flower purchased at Homesense, old headband, discarded ribbon, and 2 hair elastics. Though le bf looked at me as if I was insane, I did end up getting a ton of compliments on my DIY headpiece, and it was even featured in Toronto Star’s Queen’s Plate hat line-up. Take that, le bf!

Once we got to Woodbine Racetrack, we were a bit overwhelmed by all the action happening all around us – food trucks selling yummy bites, various party tents with things to do and people to see, wine and beer tastings, fancy hats for sale, and that’s before we even stepped foot inside the main building! We found our way to the Rethink Breast Cancer tent, where we spent most of our day. It had everything – DIY fascinator station, manis courtesy of The Ten Spot, fashion illustrators drawing partygoers’ outfits (mine was done by the talented Danielle Meder!), sweet and savoury treats, silent auctions, Be Good gelato cart…it was THE PLACE TO BE!

But of course, the track provided even more entertainment! Knowing close to nothing about horse races, I decided that my strategy would be to bid on contenders with fun names and/or my lucky number 8, which is how I ended up picking Aldous Snow and Conquest Boogaloo, and actually winning!

Overall, we had a wonderful time at the races. Queen’s Plate is quickly becoming one of the top summer events, and now I know why. I was told that each year it gets bigger and better, and I can’t wait to see what next year’s Queen’s Plate will have in store.

More after the jump!
[Read more…]