For the fourteenth year MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® of Cape Cod and Old Friends in Kentucky and New York are teaming up again for “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby”!
“Hats Off” is an unparalleled Derby hat fundraising experience sponsored by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® Custom Millinery. This auction series features four one-of-a-kind Derby hats created to benefit the retired racehorses of Old Friends. All proceeds from the sale of the hats go to Old Friends. To learn more about this exciting online fundraiser, please click on “About Hats Off to the Horses”.
Our March auction hat for the 2026 “Hats Off” fundraiser honors 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, I’ll Have Another.
The Story of I’ll Have Another
Owned by Reddam Racing LLC and bred by Harvey Clarke, the striking chestnut colt was by Flower Alley out of Arch’s Gal Edith (Arch). Interestingly, I’ll Have Another was named by owner Paul Reddam because of his own penchant for his wife’s, Zilla’s, delicious cookies. Whenever Zilla would ask him if he wanted another cookie, he would always tell her, “I’ll have another”!
The strapping chestnut colt’s career started off with wins in the 2012 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G2) followed by the Santa Anita Derby (G1). The Triple Crown came next, and the Doug F. O’Neill-trained colt captured both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. Unfortunately shortly thereafter I’ll Have Another was forced to retire with a leg injury just prior to the Belmont Stakes. I’ll Have Another won the year’s Champion 3-Year-Old Colt honors with lifetime earnings of over 2,600,000. I’ll Have Another stood in Japan from 2013 to 2018. He returned to the US where he stood until 2024 when he was pensioned.
I’ll Have Another Retires to Old Friends in Kentucky
In 2024 Paul Reddam donated I’ll Have Another to Old Friends. He became the fourth horse retired to Old Friends who had won both the Derby and the Preakness. His paddock is right next to Lava Man who ponied him to the Derby post in 2012!
In March of 2024, president and CEO of Old Friends, John Nicholson was quoted in a Bloodhorse press release, “Welcoming I’ll Have Another is an auspicious and historic moment for Old Friends. We are deeply grateful to Paul Reddam and (trainer) Doug O’Neill for choosing Old Friends to care for this great champion and to celebrate his magnificent legacy with thousands of our annual visitors.”
When Michael Blowen, founder of Old Friends shared his impressions of I’ll have Another he stated, “I’ll Have Another reminds me of all the hats Sally Creates to raise funds for Old Friends. He’s beautiful. And his name reflects what Sally’s clients say about her gorgeous chapeaux… I’ll have another.”
From the Milliner’s Studio – The Making of the “I’ll Have Another” Hat
MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® milliner, Sally Faith Steinmann knew that a well-crafted chapeau was needed to honor this exceptional Thoroughbred athlete. What a glorious way to celebrate I’ll Have Another’s arrival at Old Friends in Kentucky!
The Cape Cod milliner went online to gather clues from horse racing sites and people’s accounts of the chestnut horse. Little by little, the story of I’ll Have Another’s life conformation, connections, racing career and temperament came into view.
The next step in the creative process was a quick sketch of the hat for colors and overall design.
Steinmann selected fabrics for the hat foundation and the trims – and the creative process was ready to begin!
She first fashioned a wide-brimmed hat in white dupioni silk to create an expansive foundation for the floral trim design she had in mind.
The seasoned Derby milliner then crafted a trim centerpiece comprised of three large Marguerites sewn across the front of the hat. She stitched each individual Marguerite with purple and white silk organza for the petals and topstitched them with lavender thread.
Next, Sally handcrafted a chestnut silk-covered button and stitched it to the center of each flower as a final accent.
As a final touch to each floral element, she then created medleys of chestnut silk organza “feathers” to frame each Marguerite.
Taking yards of purple and plum tulle, she layered and wove them together to encircle the crown of the hat.
Sally then nestled the three finished floral trims into the tulle layers, with a hint of lavender hat veiling to accent.
She created a two-tone sash in chocolate brown dupioni silk lined with chestnut silk organza.
For the back seam, Sally carefully selected several shades of “chestnut” seed beads and swirled them around a fluorescent purple button center.
As a finishing touch, she took dusty lilac dupioni silk to color-blend with the entire chapeau design.
A Braided Horsehair Heart for I’ll Have Another
As a physical remembrance of I’ll Have Another, Sally gathered strands of his tail hair sent to her by Old Friends. She then braided them and wove them into the trim of the hat. This unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau now captures I’ll Have Another not only in spirit but in substance as well.
The “I’ll Have Another” hat is stunning from every angle and measures approximately 26 inches end to end!
The Photo Shoot at Old Friends
The finished hat then shipped to Old Friends in October for the photo shoot with this month’s model, Cassidy Gaffalione. Cassidy is married to one of racing’s top jockeys Tyler Gaffalione and is the daughter of Bob and Kristine Edwards of e Five Racing Thoroughbreds. From all that we heard the photo shoot was a huge success, thank you Cassidy!
A special thank you as well to this year’s photographer, Carson Dennis (Blevins) for her stunning images of the photo shoot…
… and to Old Friends volunteer and photographer Laura Battles for her beautiful images of I’ll Have Another.
To learn more about I’ll Have Another, please visit this webpage about I’ll Have Another’s arrival at Old Friends.
Auction Details
The “I’ll Have Another” auction hat will be up for bid starting March 1st. Bidding ends March 11th at 8 PM EST.
Bid on as many hats as you like during this running auction. All of the proceeds go to the retired racehorses of Old Friends.
For more information about the eBay bidding, contact Old Friends at 502-863-1775.
Freight charges (including insurance) will be at the expense of the winning bidder. Winning bidders, please allow two to three weeks for delivery of your hat to allow time for proper sizing.
To view the couture Derby hats from previous auctions, please click on “Hats Off – A Retrospective”.
Thank you for supporting Old Friends!