Napravnik and Old Friends launch fifth annual 'Hats off to the Horses'

Last updated: 10/29/13 2:18 PM

Napravnik and Old Friends launch fifth annual ‘Hats off to the
Horses’

Rosie Napravnik and Sean
Avery

(EquiSport Photo)

On November 1st, leading jockey Rosie Napravnik will throw off her helmet and
don a one-of-a-kind Kentucky Derby chapeau to launch the fifth annual “Hats Off
to the Horses: The Road to the Derby,” an online auction that raises money for
Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Facility in Central Kentucky.

One of the most successful female jockeys in horse racing, Napravnik is also
an avid Old Friends supporter and a member of its board of directors. Throughout
October she graciously posed for the photographers of EquiSport Photos wearing
each of the six beautiful designs that will be auctioned, one per month, leading
right up to the 2014 running of the Kentucky Derby.

The campaign kicks off on the evening of November 1st with this year’s first
hat “The Sean Avery,” named for the Grade 1-winning sprinter who retired to Old
Friends in February of this year. Bidding will begin at 8 p.m. (ET) and be open
for 10 days only.

This is the fifth consecutive year that Old Friends has joined with acclaimed
milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of the Massachusetts-based Maggie Mae Designs to
auction six handcrafted Kentucky Derby hats, each inspired by one of the
non-profit organization’s 120 retired racehorses. To date, this unique
fundraiser has earned nearly $17,000 for Old Friends.

Interested bidders can go to the Old Friends website at
www.oldfriendsequine.org and
follow the link.

“I am a big fan of Old Friends and its mission,” Napravnik said. “I always
keep in mind that a horse may be win a Breeders’ Cup race this year but next
year they may need a place to reside in retirement.”

For a video of Napravnik’s photo shoot with the 7-year-old gelding Sean Avery
go to www.oldfriendsequine.org and follow the link.

The Sean Avery chapeau is a very stylish Derby hat designed with a unique
blend of colors, tones and textures The hat was fashioned out of black dupioni
silk and features a sweeping brim that upturns to create a dramatic,
asymmetrical style. It’s adorned with a single red flower crafted out swirling
layers of metallic taffeta and dupioni silk and dozens of silk organza feathers
— a Maggie Mae Designs trademark.

For final touch, three rosettes decorate the under brim lending a note of
elegance and charm.

For additional information contact Maggie Mae Designs at
info@maggiemae.com.For more information
about Old Friends, visit their website or call the farm at (502) 863-1775.

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