For the tenth 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.
The third hat up for bid for March in our “Hats Off” series for Old Friends pays honors Kentucky-bred, Archies Echo who at 30 years old is one of the oldest retirees at Dream Chase Farm.
The chestnut son of Palace Malace competed during his racing career for modest purses and winnings at Atlantic City, Suffolk Downs, and Rockingham Park. Retired in 1995, Archies Echo was discovered twenty years later at a slaughter auction facility, blinded in one eye.
Special thanks to Parx Racing Vice President Sam Elliott who purchased him, Turning For Home who provided his transportation, medical care and a temporary home, and longtime trainer and Thoroughbred advocate Lorita Lindemann who facilitated his retirement to Old Friends in June of 2015.
When I asked Old Friends volunteer, Beth Shannon her impressions of Archie she responded, “He’s one survivor, I can tell you that. He was in pretty dire condition when he came to us, saved out of a kill auction, but with care and love he’s thrived marvelously. He’s one of our oldest residents, and has also had dental and other issues, but his grit and spunk just keep on keepin’ on. I guess he’s a bit spoiled these days, but he deserves it and we love him dearly.”
As a low level claimer, Archie changed hands often and as a result he never had his own official racing silks. When it came time to determine the colors of Archie’s chapeau, Beth’s advice was invaluable to me, “I think Archie’s favorite colors are rose-gold, the color he is, and green, the color of the beautiful grass he can laze, graze and nap on at will; the color of this happy, safe last part of his life.”
Clearly, a very special one-of-a-kind hat was needed to honor this beloved retiree of Old Friends.
To learn more about Archie’s life and career I went online and watched videos of his life on the track…
Next, a sketch of the hat was made, fabrics were chosen and the creative process was underway.
The resulting hat design showcases Archie’s rose-gold coat, his safe forever home at Old Friends along with his gentle spirit.
The foundation of the hat design was created out of blush dupioni silk overlaid with gold lace to create a rose-gold color effect.
For the trim centerpiece, a single large rose was fashioned out of three swirling layers of rose dupioni silk, rose organza and blush silk organza, and placed along the front crown of the hat.
The rose was then framed with a medley of sage green crinkle organza leaves.
Five fabric “feathers”, a MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® trademark, were fashioned in varying sizes out of chocolate brown organza and layered and shaped to add a splash of dramatic detail to the floral trim.
A large bow handcrafted out of sage green metallic taffeta lined with sage green crinkle organza was added to provide a stunning yet delicate “nest” for the floral-and-feather trim.
A sash made of sage green metallic taffeta was gathered to encircle the crown of the hat.
A large swirling gold and sage green button was added to the back of the hat for the finishing touch.
The lining for the “Archies Echo” hat was created from a soft rose blush satin to coordinate with the trims.
The finished “Archies Echo” hat design measures approximately 24 inches across, inclusive of the chocolate “feathers”.
As a physical remembrance of Archies Echo, several strands of his tail hair were braided and woven into the trim of the hat, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau that captures Archies Echo 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!
And from all that I heard, everyone had a terrific time!
Special thanks to Special thanks to artist Dagmar Galleithner-Steiner and her husband retired jockey, Joe Steiner and a big welcome to chief photographer for Daily Racing Form and 6-time Eclipse Award winner, Barbara D. Livingston who has captivated us all with her stunning images!
The “Archies Echo” auction hat is now up for bid on EBay. Bidding ends March 11th at 8 PM EST.
Please also enjoy this slideshow of the “Archies Echo” chapeau and the amazing horse who inspired it.
To learn more about the life, career and retirement of Archies Echo, please visit the Archies Echo horse webpage.
For more information about the “Archies Echo” Chapeau please visit the Archies Echo 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