A racegoers cheers on her horse in Race 4 ahead of the race of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, November 7, 2017. (Photo by Andy Brownbill/AP Photo)

Only the most intrepid urban explorers cross the tattered ruins of the old Iron Curtain to endure the excessive bureaucracy, military paranoia and freezing winds of the East to hunt for the ghosts of an empire. Rebecca Litchfield is one who couldn’t resist the haunting allure of the ruins of the Soviet Union.

Darryl Horner jnr riding Flying Agent (bottom R) races away to defeat Steven Pateman riding Bit of a Lad in Race 6, the 3yb Scotty Stewart Brierly Steeplechase, on Brierly Day during the Warrnambool Jumps Carnival at Warrnambool Racing Club on May 04, 2021 in Warrnambool, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Two drunk race-goers make their way home after the last race of the third day of the Royal Ascot horse racing week June 19, 2003 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Horses compete in the VEA, VHBPA, and VTA Maiden Claiming Hurdle race during the Virginia Gold Cup Races at Great Meadow on Saturday May 06, 2023 in The Plains, VA. (Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

A jockey rides her horse on mud flats during the tideland race (Wadden Race) in Duhnen, Lower Saxony, Germany, July 12, 2015. (Photo by Fabian Bimmer/Reuters)

Alex Jones races in the second set of heats during the “T-Rex World Championship Races” at Emerald Downs, Sunday, August 20, 2023, in Auburn, Wash. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo)

Jockeys and their horses reflect in the water of Laytown Beach during the third race of the day at the Laytown Races in Co Meath, Ireland on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. (Photo by Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters)