For the 12th consecutive year, Maggie Mae Designs® and Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement have teamed up for an unparalleled online shopping experience: “Hats off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby”.
This unique fundraiser features one-of-a-kind couture hats created by Maggie Mae Designs®, the sale of which benefits Old Friends.
The last hat up for bid in our 2021 auction series honors Birdstone, winner of the 2004 Belmont Stakes and the 2004 Travers Stakes.
Bidding in this online auction will be available through April 11, 8:00 pm (EST). To bid, CLICK HERE
The son of Grindstone out of the Storm Bird mare Dear Birdie, Birdstone was donated to the non-profit organization by Gainesway Farm.
A homebred for owner Marylou Whitney and trained by Nick Zito, Birdstone captured the G1 Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old in 2003. Birdstone ran up the track in the Kentucky Derby and sat out the Preakness, before surprising most of the sell-out crowd when he got up in the final yards in the Belmont Stakes to ruin Smarty Jones' try for the Triple Crown. That summer, at Saratoga Race Course, Birdstone proved that the Belmont was no fluke when he added a victory in the Travers Stakes to his impressive resume.
A very special chapeau was needed to honor this accomplished athlete. An extra wide hat foundation was created using an iridescent blue taffeta with chocolate thread to reflect the Whitney Stable's Eton blue racing silk colors.
To celebrate Birdstone's amazing charge to defeat favorite Smarty Jones in his Triple Crown bid, three delicate Marguerites were created out of chocolate satin rose curl centers and greenish-blue organza petals top stitched with chocolate embroidery strands. Two large Marguerite flowers adorn the front of the hat and one slightly smaller Marguerite adorns the back.
A chocolate taffeta sash lined with black silk organza encircles the crown of the hat and swirling layers of chocolate brown tulle encircle the crown.
As a physical remembrance of Birdstone, several strands of his tail hair were braided and woven into the trim of the hat, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau that captures Birdstone not only in spirit but in substance as well.
Maggie Mae Designs® Custom Millinery offers magnificent hats for all occasions – from glamorous racing events such as the Kentucky Derby and the Royal Ascot to stunning bridal wear and handsome cocktail fashions. Every hat is carefully handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann from her home base in South Harwich, MA. Salons of her fashions can been seen on her website at www.maggiemaedesigns.com
Bidding is open now. To bid CLICK HERE
The post Hats Off To The Horses: Birdstone Chapeau Benefits Old Friends appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
