The 16th Annual Day At The Races (DATR) presented by Truist Bank was a little like the Kentucky Derby’s photo finish — a scramble to the finish line.
With the VIP reception of Turtle Creek Conservancy’s signature fundraiser at Turtle Creek Park starting at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, the crowd was ready to break from the gate. But in this case it wasn’t a starting gate. Rather it was a cord that kept guests contained to the foyer, Great Hall, terrace and one-fifth of the air-conditioned, clear-tented “ballroom.”
On the other side of the cord was a beautiful setting of tables festooned with blue tablecloths and vases containing white roses and hydrangeas and the white chairs sporting gold backs just waiting for the gathering to fully get underway. The highlight of each table was a reserve sign celebrating the big donors.
But no matter. After all, guests wanted for nothing, with flutes being re-filled and yummies being presented by the wandering servers, who were as popular as homecoming queens.
A jazz trio played tunes like “Ain’t Misbehavin'” and “Fly Me to the Moon” for guests including DATR Co-Chairs Melissa Sherrill Martin and Ross Martin, Truist’s Renda Mathew and Russell Hayward, Honorary Chair Emilynn Wilson, Underwriting Co-Chairs Katie Layton Oster and Allan Oster, Katherine and Austin Wyker, Felicia and Gideon Powell, , Shari Maher, Jennifer Powell, Lynn and Peter Dauterman, Vanessa Villegas, Coco Iñiguez, Stewart Haverlack, Randy Pruett, Mary Martha and Dr. John Pickens, Isabelle Terry, Sofia Crumbley, Di Johnston, Beth Layton, Alana and Ron Brame, Beth and Ron Hall, Lisa and Joe Bob Shirley, Amy Green and Katy and Anthony Valente. Dallas City Council member Paul Ridley expressed confidence that all the measures in that day’s special bond election would pass. Herb Weitzman said he was putting in bids for “western stuff” in the silent auction.
As the general admission-type dapper Dans and darling Dollies arrived, the foyer, hall and ballroom quickly began filling to capacity. As soon as the cord was removed, the guests discovered a round bar on the side of the ballroom with the barkeepers pouring non-stop. And then there was a buffet that would make a southern belle ring-a-ding-ding with fried chicken steak, grits and shrimp, pulled-pork Po’Boy sandwiches and mini peach cobbler.
However, smart general admission types staked out the real estate at the top of the terrace and on the steps in front of the columns for perfect viewing of the goings-on and, eventually, the huge TV screen’s coverage of the day’s highlight — the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
Meantime, DATR judges Lisa Cooley, John Clutts, Patti Flowers, Tanya Foster and Jill Rowlett eyeballed the crowd to decide on the day’s winning looks.
As they gathered later in the dressing room for brides at Arlington Hall, Lisa’s daughter Ciara Cooley Biggers joined the group. It seems that due to Lisa’s having to duck out early for a wedding, Ciara would sub in for her mom for the announcement of the winners.
Then, the hiccups of the day began. When a question was posed about just when the results of the judging would be announced to the crowd, no one was quite sure. It all depended on when the Derby would get underway. One person said, “5:15.” Another offered, “5:55.”
It didn’t help the situation when the question was broached, “What’s the program?” and no answer was heard. Someone asked for a program to see the POA, but none could be found.
Then, though, word came that the horse race would take place just minutes before 6. Someone said the judges would need to gather quickly before then to reveal their results.
Back in the tent, welcoming remarks by Turtle Creek Park Conservancy CEO Tiffany Divis, followed by a video, were largely lost in the din due to the chattering crowd and an anemic sound system.
Auctioneer Louis Murad suffered the same fate, as his announcement of the arrival of the judges could hardly be heard. Which was just as well, since no judges were arriving anyway.
When at last the arbiters did finally show up, the audio situation continued to deteriorate as the judges tried their best to be heard over all the noise.
Alas, this lack of being heard resulted in some of the winners being out of earshot and not coming up to be recognized. Those who did took their places onstage to have their photos taken with their judges — who still looked a bit bewildered. Weren’t they supposed to present the winners with a ribbon … or a trophy … or something besides a big smile?
The categories and winners were:
- Outstanding in Her Field judged by Lisa Cooley – Natasha Aslin
- Dapper Dan judged by Jill Rowlett – Kevin Lewis
- Run for the Roses judged by John Clutts – Lauren Clark
- Derby Duo, Best Dressed Couple judged by Tanya Foster – Brooke and Aaron Shelby
- Derby Glamour, Day and Night judged by Patti Flowers – Melinda Knowles
- Honorable Mention selected by all the judges – Wendy Messmann
When the Derby finally got underway — resulting in a three-way photo-finish — Louis didn’t know whether to start the live auction right away, or to hold off pending the announcement of the race results. Meantime, guests began making for the bars and the exit doors.
While the Churchill Downs folks sweated it out in the Kentucky humidity waiting for news of the winner, the North Texas crowd chilled in the air-conditioned ballroom partying on. Ten minutes later the results were in — Mystik Dan had won, edging out Sierra Leone and Forever Young literally by a nose.