An online auction "Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby," to benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred retirement facility, will begin Nov. 1 with the first offering, a "Black Tie Affair" Derby hat.
In September, Old Friends announced the six-month-long charity auction featuring a new custom-made hat every month leading up to the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Each hat is inspired by one of the 70 retirees now pensioned at Old Friends.
The Black Tie Affair hat is a pale gray and black silk dupioni and silk organza design was handcrafted for the sale by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann, proprietor of Maggie Mae Designs in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, according to a press release. Steinman is donating each of the six hats and all of the online proceeds will benefit Old Friends.
A link to the live auction page can be found at www.oldfriendsequine.org, where full details of the final item will be described. The hat can also be viewed at www.maggiemaedesigns.com. The Black Tie Affair hat auction, named after the Old Friends pensioner who was Horse of the Year in 1991, will last for 10 days.
Each new hat will be made available on the first day of the month through April 2010.
