Mother Nature showed her sporting side on October 27 when she blessed racing enthusiasts at the International Gold Cup with a brief light drizzle. Their umbrellas mostly furled, intrepid spectators were treated to a superb day of racing with cool temps and even a bit of sunshine.

It's a bit of craic, as the Irish would say, to be part of the cheerful crowd that gathers at Great Meadow. If you're among the folks who opted to stay home because it was raining wherever you were, you missed a great day at Great Meadow. Rain or shine, savvy fans know to be prepared with suitable layers.

This year's 81st running of the International Gold Cup was like a huge block party with bling and blue jeans, a sporting fashion show of waxed outerwear, great hats (fancy and practical) and boots. Photo opps abounded, and tailgate parties ranged from simple to sublime. The Kiechlin-Mohanty party occupied two spaces on the homestretch where they held their traditional birthday celebration for James Kiechlin. His wife Nikki Kiechlin was kind enough to email the group photo and answer a few questions.

"We started going to International Gold Cup about five years ago," Nikki said. "Our family friend has had a plot on the rail for many years. About three years ago, we started getting our own plot. James's birthday is October 26, always right around the time of the races so we made it a tradition to go each year and celebrate."

The Kiechlins didn't grow up around horses. "We only started getting into horse racing in the last five years," Nikki added. "We love the energy of the races. Our favorite part of the day was going up to the betting tent to place our bets, then returning to the rail to watch the races and cheer on our horse. Some of us won, others may have left with less than they came with." At their first Gold Cup, they had 10 people in their party although the number has grown each year. "We now have to secure a shuttle bus to get everyone there," Nikki said. "The largest number we had was 30. Most of our friends live in Arlington, like us, and D.C. Some even come from Maryland. It's definitely an event everyone looks forward to! They really enjoy getting dressed up and betting on their favorite horse. Even though it rained early on, we had a great time. Knowing it was going to be cool, everyone dressed for the weather. It ended up being a nice day and later on the sun even shown a bit. We made some great memories."

The race card was championship quality with Doc Cebu scoring a second straight win in the $75,000 International Gold Cup Timber Stakes. Piloted by Haddon Frost, Doc Cebu bested a competitive field of proven timber winners by 5¼ lengths. Super Saturday, owned by Irvin Naylor, provided spectators with a rousing drive for the finish line to claim second place over Michael Smith's Le Chevalier, trained by Julie Gomeman.

Doc Cebu, owned by Charles C. Fenwick, Jr., Michael Hankin, and Charles Noell, is trained by Jack Fisher, who has an affinity for quirky talented Thoroughbreds and takes his 'chasers foxhunting. He began his jockey career in 1976, sanctioned meets, and saddled his first runner in 1987.

As the 2018 NSA season concluded in November, Fisher again clinched top NSA yearend honors by earning both Trainer titles: Races Won and Money Won. Fisher's NSA (sanctioned-only) stats for the year include 22 first, 28 seconds, and 16 thirds in 134 starts. Fisher's jockey record — 109 wins and 94 seconds in 493 career starts — began with pony races, his trainer career in 1987. He's a Gold Cup specialist, having trained and ridden the great Timber Champion Saluter for owners Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stern.

Deemed Horse of the Century and considered a Horse of a Lifetime by Fisher himself, Saluter earned back-to-back wins in the International Gold Cup (1998,1999). Saluter and Fisher scored six wins in the Virginia Gold Cup, retiring the coveted trophy for only the seventh time in the May Timber Stakes' history after five consecutive wins (1994-1998), adding the sixth victory in 1999 when Saluter was 11. After the 2000 season, Saluter retired from racing and continued to live at Fisher's farm in Maryland where he lived a good life, enjoying spins in the hunt field with Fisher and then total leisure until he passed at 28 in 2017.

Doc Cebu garnered the crown as the leading 2018 NSA Timber Horse. Hadden Frost finished fifth in the Timber Jockey Standings for Money Won with four wins and two thirds in only nine timber starts.

Doc Cebu was highly favored to win the International Gold Cup and went off at very short odds, returning less reward for your bet, but that's horse racing. Pari-Mutuel betting at the Gold Cup races is serious craic. By investing a fast two bucks for a winning ticket or $2 across the board (six bucks total), spectators enjoy an inexpensive personal stake in the outcome of the race. It's exhilarating to cheer "your horse" home and a buzz to cash in your tickets – just don't bet the mortgage payment!

The Gold Cups at Great Meadow, major fixtures on the National Steeplechase Association's calendar, take place in October and May. The Virginia Gold Cup runs on the first Saturday in May, like the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. It's a grand way to celebrate spring, cheer on your faves and, at the conclusion of racing at Great Meadow, you can bet on and cheer your horse in the Run for the Roses, which is broadcast on the Jumbotron. It's a great outing and fantastic venue to establish a new tradition, be it a birthday, anniversary, Mother and Father's Day, or simply to celebrate spring.