LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Hundreds flocked to the infield at Churchill Downs to watch Friday's Oaks Day races, despite the rainy conditions. 

What You Need To Know

  •  The rain did not keep people away from Churchill Downs on Oaks Day

  •  Hundreds of people still watched from the infield, which doesn't have many areas that are covered

  •  People came prepared by wearing ponchos, rain jackets and rain boots

The infield doesn't have many covered areas for people to take shelter from the rain. 

Amy Vissing has attended Oaks Day with her friends for decades and has seen all kinds of weather.

“We’ve put up with rainy days, cold and rainy days, muddy days, but also sunny days and beautiful days," Vissing said. "It doesn’t really matter. We know we’re going to have a great time, no matter what.”

Two of Charlotte Self's friends had plastic wrapped around the fascinators she made for them to protect them from the rain. (Spectrum News 1/Geraldine Torrellas)

Vissing moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana, when she was about 10 years old and joined a dance studio. That’s where she met most of the women in her group. She would go on to dance with them until she was 42.

“We became the closest group of friends you could ever ask for,” Vissing said.

They had their ponchos, rain jackets and rain boots on in preparation for Friday's weather. 

Charlotte Self and her friends also came prepared. Self has made fascinators for a decade and found a way to protect them from the rain.

“Of course, today, we had to get plastic on them, (when) we just take dry cleaner plastic (and) wrap it,” Self said.

Both groups said they had a great time, regardless of the weather. 

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