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Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby
A Unique Online Charity Hat Auction Benefiting

Old Friends

sponsored by
^{MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®
Custom Couture Millinery by Sally Faith Steinmann}

"Sunshine Forever" Hat

MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS^® and Old Friends have teamed up for an unparalleled online shopping experience: "Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby". This unique Derby hat fundraiser features one-of-a-kind couture Derby hats created by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS^® to benefit Old Friends. To learn more about Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, please visit the Old Friends website, or call them at 502-863-1775.

For our sixth and final hat auction, milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS^® has created this stunning one-of-a-kind couture Derby hat in honor of another special retiree at Old Friends, Sunshine Forever. In 2004 arrangements were made by Old Friends to transport this magnificent bay stallion from Nitta Farm, the very same stud facility in Japan where Ferdinand had stood before his tragic end. From the moment he first set hooves on Dream Chase Farm, Sunshine Forever's days of sunshine truly began and he has brought the same to all who have been fortunate enough to meet him. To read more about this magnificent stallion at Old Friends, please click on the picture of Sunshine Forever below.

Sired by Roberto and out of Outward Sunshine, Sunshine Forever's best racing year for the Darby Dan stable was 1988. After scoring graded stakes victories in the Hill Price and Lexington, he went on to win three Grade I races in a row: the Turf Classic at Belmont, the Man O'War and the Budweiser International.

This amazing equine athlete deserved a very special hat that would speak not only to his stellar career but to the fondness that so many feel for him who have visited Old Friends over the years. The base of this Derby chapeau was created in a rich cinnamon-tinted chocolate dupioni silk. An innovative trim design of swirling colors, textures and shapes brings together and celebrates this stallion's conformation, racing colors and impressive career.

Sunshine's racing colors for the Darby Dan stable were fawn and chocolate brown, a theme carried throughout the entire design of this elegant hat. To compliment the chocolate dupioni hat foundation, a buttery fawn dupioni silk was used for the underbrim which adds an element of surprise whenever the wearer's head is tilted up even slightly.

Next, five delicate peony-shaped organza flowers were created to reflect Sunshine's five major wins. Two adorn the back of the hat in celebration of his Hill Prince and Lexington victories and three more decorate the front of the hat for the Grade I wins in the Turf Classic at Belmont, the Man O' War and the Budweiser International.

Each flower was specifically designed to catch the light and look as if it was sparkling in glorious sunshine. The five petals of each peony were created in glistening chocolate organza and filled with a rich warm fawn dupioni silk center that holds a medley of shimmering golden beads and buttons.

The purpose of this amazing millinery delight is to honor the life of Sunshine Forever and all of the horses who, thanks to the generosity of those who support their aftercare, now graze in the warm sunshine of Dream Chase Farm for the rest of their lives...

To read more about Sunshine Forever, the horse, please click on the following link - Featured Horse.

This amazing millinery delight will be up for bid from April 1st through April 11th, 2010. At the end of the month, the winning bidder's name will be announced (unless they prefer to remain anonymous).

Bid as many times and on as many hats as you like during this running auction. For further information about the eBay bidding process, please contact Old Friends at 502-863-1775. If you don't desire to place a bid on a hat, please contact Old Friends to see about what other ways you might be able to help out at Dream Chase Farm.

Freight charges will be at the expense of the winning bidder. Winning bidders, please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of your hat in order to ensure proper sizing.

CONGRATULATIONS once again to Mr. Bruce Dutton of Alabama, the winner now of our first, third, and fifth Derby auction hats - "Black Tie Affair", Bull Inthe Heather" and "Academy Award" - that were up for bid in November, January, and March! CONGRATULATIONS once again to Helen Shannon of Chicago, the winner of our second and fourth Derby hats, the Will's Way" and the "Commentator". CONGRATULATIONS to Brenda and Randy Rosen of Lexington Kentucky, winners of the sixth and final auction hat, created for Old Friend retiree, Sunshine Forever!

To view the couture Derby hats that we have had up for bid in former rounds of this exclusive Derby hat auction, please click on the following - Old Friends Hat Auction Portfolio

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