Hats On for the Derby

There’s always something to celebrate on Marco Island, and Saturday evening, it was the Kentucky Derby. For the 152nd Run for the Roses, Marco establishments hosting Kentucky Derby parties included Marek’s Collier House and the Sand Bar.

They call the Kentucky Derby the “fastest two minutes in sports,” which means there is a lot of time ahead of the race for schmoozing, downing alcohol, often in the form of a mint julep, and gazing at hats. To a large extent, Derby parties seem to be all about the hats, and the horse race showing up on big-screen TVs is merely an excuse for the festivities. The ladies’ chapeaux appear to be limited only by imagination and the necessity to fit through a door. They sat atop their wearers’ heads in a dazzling variety of styles.

Both the Sand Bar and Marek’s held competitions for Best Hat, along with a few related sartorial competitions, and raffles to see who picked the actual race winner. The vibe at the two establishments could hardly be more different; the Sand Bar was boisterous and packed with patrons, while the Collier House atmosphere was more laid-back and classic. Marek’s also had a $300 per head (or hat) ticket price attached to their event, although owner Trese Hadge said they opened it up to dinner guests as well.

“The idea is to be inclusive, not exclude people,” she said. Activities at Marek’s included a welcome mint julep, a Bourbon tasting station featuring Woodford Reserve (the official Derby sponsor), Four Roses, Old Forester, and Angel’s Envy, and an onsite demonstration of hand-rolling cigars by Naples tobacconist Marcus Daniel and his staff. Dinner featured southern fried chicken, mouth-watering ribs, and Chef Denny’s signature Beef Wellington.

Marek’s had competitions for best-dressed woman and couple, as well as the hat contest. Jessica Garcia took two out of three, winning best dressed and, with her partner Chris Fazio, best couple as well. She was kept from a trifecta by Nanette Baumgardner, who won for best hat.

At the Sand Bar, Best Hat went to Laura Scelfo, whose hat blew bubbles as she paraded around the restaurant. Lisa Triscari, whose hat dispensed drinks, won second place, and Liz Kavava took third. There were many additional memorable hats, such as Kathy Nee’s topper, into which she put a serious amount of work and handicraft, decorating it with roses, Bourbon bottles, and hundred-dollar bills – all fake – and real feathers. All the hat-related attention was on the females, but if anyone was interested, Dave Walsh, Dave Harrell, and Todd Triscari did finish one, two, and three in the Sand Bar’s men’s hat contest.

The Sand Bar featured Bulleit Bourbon for their mint juleps, although once you finish mixing up a julep – the recipe calls for “simple syrup, Bourbon, fresh mint, and perhaps a little soda,” served in a frosted silver or pewter glass – it can be difficult to appreciate the finer points of the whiskey. Like the ladies’ hats, the mint julep is something many of those who imbibed it on Derby Day will not have another until next year’s Run for the Roses.

Over at Churchill Downs, the race was won by Golden Tempo, a 23-1 long shot, with trainer Cherie DeVaux making history as the first female trainer to win the race. She even has a Southwest Florida connection, having attended FCGU for a couple of years. The start was delayed when one of the horses became skittish, reared up, and threw its rider, resulting in both of them being scratched.

After the race and the awards being handed out, patrons at the Sand Bar pivoted to the rock and roll stylings of the Karin Jones Band – and hats were possibly tucked away for next year’s Derby.