Saturday afternoon Lee Park Conservancy head honcho John Williams looked around Arlington Hall and outside at the various patios and lawns leading down to Turtle Creek. Everywhere he spied gorgeous young people being utterly charming, carefree and chumming around. Lovely young women in fabulous hats and Jay Gatsby look-alikes in bow ties and natty attire were crowding the place to attend the Junior Conservancy‘s “Day at the Races” and watch a very soggy Kentucky Derby.
While the race itself didn’t take place until 5:30-ish, the party started at 2:30. Who needs a race when you have fun just watching people and the clothes. Each one had a tale.
For instance, blond relative-newlywed Natalie Metzger Lesikar (pictured) was in a hotter-than-legal pink sundress. It wasn’t hers. Nope, it belonged her “grandmother.” Well, not really her real grandmother, but her adopted grandmother, none other than Billie Leigh Rippey. Nice taste in grandmothers who have great taste in clothes. Let’s face it. A great dress never ages.
Then there was KDFW-CH. 4’s Natalie Solis who had ordered a hat for the occasion but didn’t like it. So, she was on the doorsteps of Michael’s bright and early Saturday morning to make her own. Is there anything that gal can’t do?
Over in the VIP area among the jasmine, the ladies like Kadrian Whisenhunt, Amanda Pierce, Jennifer Young and Katie O’Connell (pictured upper right with, clockwise, Amanda, Kadrian and Jennifer) were on the terrace taking in the sun with their full brims, while the men were largely indoors chowing down, watching the pre-race coverage and being boys.
As the champagne flowed, the crowd of nearly 400 gathered in Arlington Hall to hear the results of the fashion contest. And they were:
- Most Ostentatious Hat — Jenna Teeterman (pictured)
- Most Stylish Hat — Amanda Pierce
- Most Popular — Jessica Jacobs
- Best Overall Women’s — Amberly Washington
- Best-Dressed Man — Vince Shellenberg (pictured) who was going by the alias of Chuck Shelley.
Then the two-minute warning sounded and the desk for raffle tickets looked like a jewelry counter on Saturday before Mother’s Day. People were three deep trying to make their purchases.
It was a good thing that flat-screen TV’s were everywhere. Suddenly the race became the center of attention. The gates opened and the horses were off and running in Kentucky to the delightful shouts of the Lee Park crowd. Previously charming lasses were jumping up and down with their hats being put to the test just to stay on top. The guys were hollering and shaking fists. As Super Saver crossed the finish line covered in mud, the room exploded in excitement unlike Ascot propriety. Local favorites tend to inspire that, you know.
Comparing notes on their winnings and losses, the guests returned to their conversations, champagne and cigars, as John Williams smiled at an event extremely well done.