For the twelfth 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”!
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 in our 2021 “Hats Off to the Horses” auction series for Old Friends honors Patch, the bay Kentucky-bred son of Union Rags who was the fan favorite in the 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).
Patch’s eye had been removed as a two year old due to an ulcer, yet he captured the hearts of racing fans the world over with his keen athleticism and his personable disposition. Patch also raced in the Belmont Stakes (G1) where he finished third. He ended his career in 2019 earning over $500,000 and was retired to Old Friends on January 20, 2020 courtesy of Calumet Farm.
In a January 31, 2020 Thoroughbred Daily News article by Katie Ritz, President and Founder of Old Friends Michael Blowen was asked about Patch and he responded in the following way, “When he was heading into the Derby, it made for a great feel-good story. How’s a one-eyed horse going to run in the Derby? This isn’t the first one-eyed racehorse, but for some reason Patch captured the imaginations of thousands of racing fans. Plus he sees better with one eye than I do with two. Our goal is just to let them be horses again. Most of them haven’t been out in a paddock with other horses since they were babies. It’s really amazing to watch them greet each other and run around. You can tell they are gleeful.”
Clearly, a very special one-of-a-kind hat was needed to honor this beloved new retiree of Old Friends.
To learn more about Patch’s life I went online and watched videos of his life on the track and read articles about his career as a racehorse…
Next, a sketch of the hat was made, fabrics were chosen and the creative process was underway!
To honor this new Old Friends retiree, the distinctive black and gold silk colors of Patch’s Calumet connections and the vibrant red of Derby roses symbolizing Patch’s glorious Derby run in 2017 were used as inspiration for the trimmings of this stunning Derby hat.
A large hat foundation with a fedora style crown was created using a base layer of black dupioni silk, and a red dupioni silk underbrim creates a bold, elegant effect when the wearer’s face is upturned.
To celebrate Patch’s fan-favorite status in the 2017 Kentucky Derby a large, sumptuous rose curl created in curling, swirling layers of red silk organza adorns the front of the hat.
This floral centerpiece is framed with gold and bronze organza leaves…
…and mocha chocolate hat veiling provides the perfect softening accent.
Six gold organza “feathers” top stitched with gold and dark chocolate embroidery thread were added to reflect Patch’s glistening bay coat.
A narrow gold silk sash was folded and hand stitched to encircle the crown of the hat.
For a final accent, a small red button adorns the sash in the back.
The hat is stunning from every angle and measures approximately 19 inches end to end!
The lining for the “Patch” hat was created using a black and white polka dot satin to reflect what was described to me as Patch’s playful yet kind personality.
As a physical remembrance of Patch, 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 Patch not only in spirit but in substance as well.
The hat was completed in early October, and was then shipped to Old Friends for the grand photo shoot with our featured 2021 model, Acacia Courtney!
And from all that I heard, everyone had a terrific time!
Special thanks to Acacia Courtney, Gulfstream Park and New York Racing Association paddock reporter and host of the America’s Day at the Races for modeling the hat. And thank you also to Old Friends volunteer and photographer, Laura Battles for her stunning images!
The “Patch” auction hat is now up for bid on eBay and all the proceeds go to the retired racehorses of Old Friends. Bidding ends March 11th at 8 PM EST.
To learn more about the life, career and retirement of Patch, please visit the Patch horse webpage.
For more information about the “Patch” Chapeau please visit the Patch 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 about this effort that we introduced several years ago.
Thank you for visiting Hats and Horses, and for supporting our “Hats Off to the Horses” fundraiser this year!
Sally