Among events known for tradition, ceremony and really fabulous hats, The Kentucky Derby ranks right up there with the Royal Wedding.
Hat lovers and horse lovers alike are invited to celebrate this year’s Derby at a party at High Horses Therapeutic Riding in Sharon on Saturday, May 4, starting at 4 p.m. The bash features appetizers, desserts and a cash bar, photos with a horse in the “winner’s circle,” a big-screen viewing of the race at 6:50 p.m., prizes for those who bet on the horses, and of course, a contest for best hat.
Tickets for the party are $50 ($30 for children under 16) and are available at highhorses.org, or call 802-763-3280.
Refreshments include such southern-themed foods and drinks as mint juleps, fried chicken, deviled eggs and tea sandwiches.
According to executive director Nicole Jorgensen, proceeds from the event will benefit scholarships for participants in the center’s therapeutic riding program and other equine-assisted programs for people with disabilities.
“This is our first time doing it. We’re hoping it will be an annual event,” she said.
A used tack sale fundraiser will also take place at High Horses the same day, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Although the race itself is very short — the Kentucky Derby has been called “the most exciting two minutes in sports” — there’s quite a bit of fanfare leading up to it, including the communal singing of the traditional song, My Old Kentucky Home.
Jorgensen’s pick to win the race is “Improbable” (the odds at press time: 10:1). “I’m not super familiar with all the training and the science that goes into it,” she said. “I tend to choose by the name. With every sport, I have better luck when I just pick the name I like.”