AND they're off! Red roses galore, star gazing, helicopters and limousines, mint juleps or as I call them, bourbon snow cones, Derby pie, Kentucky Hot Brown sandwiches, luscious strawberries, and more. It was all at the 141st Running of the Roses in Louisville at Churchill Downs on Saturday, starting with a rendition of “My Old Kentucky Home.” Meanwhile, fans across the country hosted their own Kentucky Derby soirees in honor of the 2-minute race, and northwest Ohio was no exception. In fact there are many streets in Ottawa Hills named for past derby winners including the original Secretariat, Citation, Riva Ridge, and others.
John Robinson Block, publisher and editor-in-chief of The Blade, and his wife, Susan, and Allan Block, chairman, Block Communications and his wife, Susan, and Steve Taylor of Taylor Automotive Family and his wife, Julie, were at the Oaks Races the day before the Derby and the Derby and had fun in between at several brunches and dinners.
On the local front, the Toledo Museum of Art’s Circle 2445 group of young professionals, hosted a Derby party that started on the lawn amid the Welles Sculpture Garden for a game of bocci and continued in the Peristyle for the races and all kinds of Southern foods, mint juleps, bourbon tastings, and a Derby Digs fashion contest while Kentucky Chrome and fiddle player Jason Huntley entertained.
Sylvania Country Club's annual Derby party was the kickoff to the golf season so members played golf then partied. There were of course, mint juleps, a ladies hat contest, dancing to the Velvet Jones band and oodles of fabulous Southern style foods.
Manhattan’s Restaurant was the location again this year for the 20th North Gallery Reunion and 15th annual Derby Days reception.
Setting the scene was the equine art exhibit, started by Peggy Brennan Grant, 20 North Gallery art director emerita, who was not present, but dearly missed. The Derby Days 2015 exhibit in the restaurant runs through May 17 so you can still see the great art by local and regional artists.
Derby hats and sporting attire were the IN attire as party-goers watched the race live on multiple screens while sampling hors d’oeuvres and mint juleps from a recipe obtained by Mrs. Grant from the late Samuel Riddle, owner of the legendary racehorse Man o’ War.
First Published May 7, 2015, 4:00 a.m.