“Morning Scoop. What are you doing here!?”

By: Scoop Stanton

More about that in a second. I was able to get a ticket and time away from the kiddos for the semi annual Gold Cup steeplechase in northwest Virginia. I decided to drive as its a pain in the butt to look for a ride, especially after a Chipotle breakfast! A friend of ours wanted a lift. No problem. We decided to meet at the home of our good friend Dan Ruttenberg. We figured we might end up there at the end of the night. I roll up see an SUV full of stuff and another friend of ours walk in. I decided to be the uninvited house guest again. Walked up knocked three times and heard noise in the kitchen. Dan was washing his blender. I said good morning. He replied: “Good morning Scoop? What are you doing here!?” Dan had that “WTF are you doing in my house look! I replied: “I’m here to pick up so and so for the Gold Cup and I saw such and such walk in as we think we’ll end up here tonight.” Then my phone buzzed. Text message. So and so is late! Oops! Dan replied: Ohhhhhh! Would you like a protein smoothie!? Sure! I had one in a Solo cup! I’m not saying it was good, but my next smoothie I’d prefer it in a salad bowl!

Dan and company squeezed into another friend’s SUV. I was tasked to transport some food as I was waiting for my passenger. I took this task as serious as if I was transporting liquor! I sent a picture to show the cargo was in good care. I strapped the liquor bottle in a car seat!

My passenger showed up and were off! I made my poor passenger hear all about 75 Radio and listen to some of the archives. She tried to hop out on Interstate 66, but the doors were locked. We finally made it and it was like parking at MetLife Stadium if was located off a dirt road. We get our gear and made the march to ground zero.

The venue is described as: “a gigantic tailgate party with a horse track in the back.” We roll up and there is everyone! Way too many to name off, but here’s the pics! The ladies of course looked beautiful and classy. as usual! And there were hats everywhere. I couldn’t find my USS San Antonio (LPD-17) hat so I was short.

Scoop and Dan! Enough said!

Here’s my favorite photo. A famous and glamourous model was photobombed by Selamawit Yirga and Luciani Rocha! Don’t worry Dan, we can photoshop the ladies out later!

I had the time of my life! There was a ton of food and booze! Kudos to Luciani for her tuna dish! It was the perfect dish. It didn’t need to be on ice or heated up! I met so many other people. Those I call family and those who will be brought into our family! I was having so much fun, that I couldn’t be like Eddie Mush from “A Bronx Tale.” Didn’t place one bet. Didn’t know when post time was! As the day turned into evening, I called it a day and went home. I was in bed by 9pm!

The Kentucky Derby can go spit! The Virginia Gold Cup is the shit! And it’s because of us!

I need to thank Mike Foster. I usually call him “The Photobomber” but this last month he was “The Logistics Master.” Tickets, parking passes, tables, ice, the online chat forum alone was work enough! This could not have happened without Mike. Now I know what the Allied Forces did before that day in early June! I really look forward to October, but one of my financial burdens is having a birthday around that time!