It wasn't a day for hats or heroes at the Budweiser Irish Derby. The rains came hard and heavy on a damp, dark afternoon, with numbers well down on previous years.
Any women brave enough to persevere with headwear paid the price. Feathers and flowers were flattened on hundreds of hats which the wind threatened to blow away at any minute.
Last year, we had witnessed superstars Gallileo and Rock of Gibraltar strut their stuff. This year, the performances were less impressive.
The weather meant less style was on show than on previous occasions. Wellington boots, jeans and woollen coats were the preference of many racegoers.
Faith Ammond, from Carlow, battled the elements in a white linen suit. "I love racing, but this is miserable," she said. "There is no atmosphere, nor style. It's the middle of summer yet you would almost need a fur coat."
The inclement weather, however, did not result in a lack of celebrities. Keith Duffy and Stephen Gately of Boyzone were there. Linda Martin, manager of pop group Six, Gay Byrne and RTÉ news reader Anne Doyle were also spotted.
There was a high turnout of politicians, including the Tánaiste, Mary Harney, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, and former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds. At odds of 1/3, Derby favourite High Chaparral was beyond the limits of ordinary punters, many of whom looked around for an alternative to bet on. But, even if they had no money on High Chaparral, the crowd were hoping for a scintillating display from the Epsom Derby winner.
It wasn't to be. The favourite triumphed by three lengths, but it was a workmanlike performance. There was no lightning change of gear and the second home was 200/1 shot Sholokhov. We will have to come back next year for hats and heroes.
Dwight Yorke, the Manchester United striker, was escorted from the racecourse by security staff after the Derby. It is understood that he was asked to leave the VIP tent following a complaint to gardaí.
A spokesman for the PR company Fleishman-Hillard Saunders said: "An incident has been reported to gardaí and is being investigated."