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 second hat up for bid for February in our “Hats Off” series for Old Friends pays tribute to Australian champion, Bint Marscay, who “beat the boys” in the 1993 Golden Slipper Stakes (G1).
Sadly, “Binty” died on January 29, 2019 at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement in KY, where she had been retired since the Spring of 2013.
Binty’s very recent passing has been a difficult loss for everyone at Old Friends. Yet we wanted to celebrate her remarkable life and honor her as the great race mare and special equine Friend that she truly was.
When I asked Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends, his impression of Bint Mascay he responded, “Bint Marscay was the classy equine equivalent of Princess Grace, and Sally has incorporated these qualities of self-assurance, beauty and intelligence into this namesake chapeau. It’s a stunning reminder and eternal tribute to her royal legacy.”
Laura Battles, photographer for Old Friends, who was known as “Binty’s special person” told me recently, “Binty was amazing. You couldn’t ask for a kinder or wiser friend than her.”
Anyone who saw them together knew that the bond shared by Bint Marscay and Laura Battles was one-of-a-kind. Their devotion to one another knew no boundaries or conditions; the kind we all can aspire to in our own relationships.
Clearly, a very special one-of-a-kind hat was needed to honor these two amazing Ladies of Old Friends.
The resulting hat design showcases Bint Marscay’s bright chestnut coat, her racing silk colors of red, black and white, and her sweet spirit and athleticism.
To learn more about Binty’s life and career I went online and watched videos of her wins on the track…
Next, a sketch of the hat was made, fabrics were chosen and the creative process was underway.
The foundation of the top hat design was created out of red dupioni silk.
A snow white gardenia, the symbol of deep, trusting, eternal love, seemed like the perfect trim centerpiece to celebrate the special relationship shared by Bint Marscay and Laura. With them both in mind, a single large flower, petals opened wide to catch the sun, was fashioned out of five layers of soft, white dupioni silk.
To showcase Bint Marscay’s thrilling 1993 Golden Slipper win, a swirling floral jewel was created out of golden beads to form a shimmering center for the gardenia.
The flower was then framed with a medley of lime green taffeta and organza leaves.
A large free form bow, fashioned out of chocolate veiling, was added to provide a stunning yet delicate “nest” for the bejeweled floral trim.
Five black and gold top stitched chocolate and black silk organza “feathers” were added for a final trim accent.
Next, a sash was created out of black and white polka dots to encircle the crown of the hat.
A large black, gold and white button was added to the back of the hat for the finishing touch.
The lining for the “Bint Marscay” hat was created from a rich, red satin to reflect Bint Marscay’s chestnut coat.
The finished “Bint Marscay” hat design measures approximately 17 inches across, end to end including the organza “feathers”!
As a physical remembrance of Bint Marscay, several strands of her tail hair were braided and woven into the trim of the hat, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau that captures Bint Marscay 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 Shelby Landeros and her husband jockey Chris Landeros and their son Beckham for modeling the hat and chief photographer for Daily Racing Form and 6-time Eclipse Award winner, Barbara D. Livingston for her stunning images!
The “Bint Marscay” auction hat is now up for bid on EBay. Bidding ends February 11th at 8 PM EST.
Please also enjoy this slideshow of the “Bint Marscay” chapeau and the amazing horse who inspired it.
To learn more about the life, career and retirement of Bint Marscay, please visit the Bint Marscay horse webpage.
For more information about the “Bint Marscay” Chapeau please visit the Bint Marscay 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