For the ninth consecutive year MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® and Old Friends have been teaming up for a unique online shopping experience called “Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby”!
This year our Derby hat fundraiser began on January 1st and will come to a close on April 11th. An annual event, “Hats Off” features one-of-a-kind couture Derby hats created by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® to benefit the retired racehorses of Old Friends. All proceeds from the sale of the hats go to Old Friends.
Our fourth and final auction hat for this year’s “Hats “Off” fundraiser is the “Charismatic” hat.
This one-of-a-kind Derby hat pays tribute to dual classic winner and 1999 Horse of the Year, Charismatic. We all remember jockey Chris Antley’s heroic efforts in the 1999 Belmont when Charismatic broke down just several strides before the finish line; Antley’s quick judgment as he cradled Charismatic’s injured left front leg saved this great stallion’s life that day.
Charismatic retired to Old Friends just this past December after returning at long last to the United States late in 2016 from stud duty at the JBBA Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan. Sadly and as fate would have it, Charismatic died on February 19, 2017 at Dream Chase Farm, just a few short months after his arrival there. To learn more about this great champion, please visit the Charismatic Horse webpage.
“Bringing him home was yet another dream come true,” said Old Friends founder and president, Michael Blowen. “Charismatic held such special memories for so many racing fans.”
John Bradley, an Old Friends volunteer recalls the day that Charismatic arrived at the farm. “It was a cold December day and as the sun set we all awaited his arrival. As the Sallee Horse Van pulled up I think in all the excitement he seemed larger than life as Antonio led him off the trailer. I’m still impressed by how the high level of intelligence he possessed came through in his eyes. The ones that have the talent and will to win the big races all have it.”
When I asked Beth Shannon, another volunteer at Old Friends, her impression of Charismatic she responded, “Charismatic was intelligent, spirited, proud yet gracious. He was willing and cooperative, the kind of stallion who inspires liking and respect from all those who deal with him. But he knew exactly who he was. His pride had a regal air to it… [And] you could see that bright mind of his working. His brightness was much more than the golden shine of his coat. His brightness came from within.”
Charismatic’s death only three months after his arrival at Old Friends was a tremendous shock, a tremendous loss.
John Bradley remarked, “All of us anticipated years of enjoying Charismatic being a resident of the farm, however it wasn’t meant to be. The sense of loss around the farm was huge. Though his time with us was brief, it was a tremendous honor to get to know him.”
In a February 28, 2017 Daily Racing Form article, Charismatic’s trainer, D. Wayne Lukas stated, “The sad part is that he was doing so well. They made such an effort to get him home. And when I went out and looked at him I couldn’t believe the condition of him. He was in beautiful shape. We spent the day out there with him and took pictures and everything and it looked like it was going to be forever. But you never can predict these things.”
Clearly, a very special hat was needed to pay tribute to this proud, intelligent retiree of Old Friends whose brief time at Old Friends left a deep and lasting impression on everyone’s hearts that reached far beyond the racetrack.
To learn more about Charismatic’s life and career I went online and watched videos of his wins on the track…
Next, a sketch of the hat was made, fabrics were chosen and the creative process was underway. A hat design was needed that would showcase Charismatic’s beautiful chestnut coat, his Lewis racing silk colors of yellow and green, and his bold spirit and athleticism.
The foundation of the hat was created out of white dupioni silk.
The edge of the brim was trimmed with a unique ruffled brim edge which allows light to pass through the sheer fabric. Created out of white silk organza overlaid with chocolate brown silk “pinstripes”, the resulting look is one of smooth elegance befitting one of the greatest of racing champions of all time.
A thin strip of fancy white braiding was then top stitched to the brim edges to give it a finished look.
For the trim centerpiece, I came up with the idea for a large peony flower for Charismatic.
Sculpted out of several shades of yellow organza, each petal was then top stitched with chocolate embroidery thread.
For the center of the peony I rolled a medium size rose curl in luscious chocolate organza.
Next, a medley of sheer green organza leaves, individually wired and shaped, were fashioned to frame the peony.
Fabric “feathers”, a MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® trademark, were fashioned in varying sizes out of white silk organza, top stitched in chocolate brown embroidery thread, and then layered and shaped to add a splash of dramatic detail to the floral trim.
Next, an elegant layered sash was created out of chocolate satin to encircle the crown of the hat.
A large mocha/green swirling button was added to the back of the hat for the finishing touch.
The lining for the “Charismatic” hat was created from white satin to coordinate with the trims.
The finished “Charismatic” hat design measures approximately 25 inches across, inclusive of the ruffled “pinstriped” brim.
As a physical remembrance of Charismatic, several strands of his tail hair were braided into a heart shape and woven into the trim of the hat, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau that captures Charismatic not only in spirit but in substance as well.
The hat was completed in early October, and then it was on its way to Old Friends for the grand photo shoot with our models!
We want to extend a big thank you to Krystal, Jon and Aubrey Court who were splendid models for the “Charismatic” chapeau as well as to Matt and Wendy Wooley of EquiSport Photos who always work their camera magic for these auctions.
For a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the photo shoot, please enjoy the video provided by EquiSport Photos.
The “Charismatic” auction hat is now up for bid on EBay. Bidding ends Wednesday April 11th at 8 PM EST.
Please also enjoy this slideshow of the “Charismatic” chapeau and the amazing horse who inspired it.
For more information about the “Charismatic” Chapeau please visit the Charismatic hat webpage.
Finally, we’d like to send a great big thank you to all of the “Friends of Old Friends” who are participating and sharing the word about “Hats Off to the Horses” this season through a very special social media campaign. Click on the poster below to learn more this effort that we introduced last season.
Thank you for visiting Hats and Horses, and for supporting our “Hats Off to the Horses” fundraiser this year!
Sally