A Derby Hat Auction Series Sponsored by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®
to Benefit Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement
For 13 consecutive years, MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® of Cape Cod and Old Friends of Kentucky teamed up each Spring for an unparalleled online shopping experience with their “Hats Off to the Horses” auction series.
Old Friends is an organization dedicated to providing retired Thoroughbred racehorses with the care they deserve when their racing/breeding careers are over. Old Friends has 2 facilities in Georgetown, one at Kentucky Dream Chase Farm and the other at Ashton Grove; a third farm is located in New York named Old Friends at Cabin Creek. More than 250 retired racehorses enjoy a forever home with Old Friends. Old Friends has a marvelous outreach as well for educating the public about the needs of all horses.
Starting in 2009, owner of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® Sally Faith Steinmann approached Old Friends with an idea. She wanted her hats to be part of that same outreach and on Old Friends’ behalf! So she created “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby”, an exclusive fundraiser for Old Friends. The fundraiser lasts for four months. Each month Sally creates and donates custom Derby hats honoring Old Friends retirees that are put up for auction. All of the proceeds benefits the horses who live at Dream Chase Farm, with over $45,000 raised to date.
Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends once stated, “Sally Faith Steinmann’s works of millinery art have raised thousands of dollars and a priceless amount of awareness for all these great retired athletes. Their stunning beauty and indescribable originality symbolize what one great artist can do to positively alter the lives of so many deserving athletes.”
Following a temporary pause on our “Hats Off” auction series we are hoping to be able to resume this worthwhile auction series for the horses of Old Friends in the near future. So please stay tuned for news and information!
We welcome you to browse through our “Hats and Horses” blog for news about our past auctions as well as information on how to contribute to this auction in the future.
And in the meantime, please enjoy the following slideshow presentation of some of our past “Hats Off” auctions below…
We are also looking forward to bringing back the “Rosie Signature Hat Collection”, our second hat donation that benefits the retired racehorses of Old Friends. Coming soon to our new! MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® website in 2024, so please stay tuned for more updates.
To learn more about Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm and offer your support, please visit the Old Friends website or call them at 502-863-1775.
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