Old Friends offers ‘The Prized’ Derby hat at auction

“The Prized” honors Old Friends retiree and Breeders’ Cup hero Prized (Photo provided by Old Friends) by Brisnet.com “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby,” a charity auction of fashionable Kentucky Derby Hats, continues Thursday as bidding opens on “The Prized.” Proceeds from this exclusive event benefit Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in central Kentucky, and features hats handcrafted by milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of Maggie Mae Designs. Each of the six unique designs are inspired by one of the pensioned racehorses at Old Friends, and a new hat will be offered for bid each month leading up to the most exciting two minutes in sports, the Kentucky Derby, held in 2012 on May 5 at Churchill Downs. The 25-year-old Prized, now a retiree at Old Friends, was bred by Meadowbrook Farm, which campaigned him along with Clover Racing Stables. Prized raced on both the dirt and the turf and accumulated total career earnings of more than $2.2 million. In 1989, Prized won the Grade 1 Molson Million at Woodbine and the Grade 2 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, where he famously upset Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Sunday Silence. Later that year, the dark bay captured the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park. Retired to stud in 1991, Prized is the sire of Grade 1 winner and fan favorite Brass Hat.

“The Prized” hat is the second chapeau to go on the virtual block in this
six-month-long auction, which kicked off November 1. The green and black racing
silks of Clover Racing Stable provided the color palette for this new Derby hat.
The green tone also commemorates the stallion’s victory on grass in the
Breeders’ Cup Turf. The centerpiece of the trim design is an enormous floral
Marguerite created in alternating layers of spring green organza and clover
taffeta. In the heart of the flower is a medley of green beads and a single
black pebble button that is meant to capture Prized’s steady, sparkling eye. The
Marguerite is framed by an assortment of black satin leaves.

Perhaps one of the most unique features of the Derby hat is the Maggie Mae
Designs signature trim of black silk organza “feathers.” These wispy additions
curve gracefully around the hat and over the brim edge.

The “Prized” hat also features a physical remembrance of the horse — several
strands of tail hair have been woven into the trim. For the finishing touch, a
black silk organza bow with black satin knot was set into the back.

Bidding on the “Prized” hat will be conducted for 10 days only on the Old
Friends website at
www.oldfriendsequine.org beginning after 8 p.m. on Thursday. Interested
bidders can view the hat and learn more about Steinmann by visiting

www.maggiemaedesigns.com and following the auction link.

For additional information contact Cynthia Grisolia at
cagrisolia@yahoo.com (347-423-7322) or
Maggie Mae Designs at info@maggiemae.com
(508-430-1626).

For additional information about Old Friends or any of its retired champions,
please visit
www.oldfriendsequine.org or call 502-863-1775.