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______________________________ Current Auction Hat The
Derby Hat Collection by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® ______________________________
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The
Twelfth Annual
The
“Afleet Accompli” Hat
__________________________________________________________________ For the twelfth consecutive year, MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® of Cape Cod and Old Friends of Kentucky are teaming up again for an unparalleled online shopping experience that begins January 1st with their "Hats Off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby" auction. This unique Derby hat fundraiser is an annual event which features one-of-a-kind couture Derby hats created and donated by couture milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® to benefit the retired racehorses of Old Friends. The first hat up for bid in our 2021 “Hats Off to the Horses” auction series for Old Friends honors Afleet Accompli, the Kentucky-bred son of 2005 Preakness-Belmont winner Afleet Alex. Afleet raced for seven seasons in both the U.S. and Puerto Rico and was multiple graded stakes placed with 63 starts; 14 wins, 17 2nds, 11 3rds and career earnings of $196,310. Retired in 2019 due to a career-ending suspensory injury, Afleet Accompli found safe haven with the Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare (CTA), an aftercare organization that works to retrain and rehome horses in Puerto Rico and other islands. CTA co-founder Kelley Stobie personally cared for the horse until space became available at Old Friends in August 2020 when he was shipped to Kentucky as a donation from CTA.
The
“Afleet Accompli” chapeau is up for bid from January
1st through the 11th. All proceeds from the sale go to
Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement.
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When I asked Michael Blowen, President of Old Friends what he wanted people to know about this special new arrival he stated, "Afleet Accompli may not have accomplished much on the racetrack but he certainly ended up in life's winners circle when discovered by all the wonderful people at Caribbean Thoroughbred Aftercare."
And Blowen added, “He's now a Gr.1 retiree with a hat to match.”
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The green and yellow racing silks of the Canito Racing racing stable in Puerto Rico inspired a tropical island palette for the trimmings of this stunning Derby hat and are the recurring theme throughout the design. For starters, a large hat foundation was created using a stunning coral taffeta.
__________________________________________________________________ The edge of the brim was trimmed with a triple layer of organza ruffles which allows the light to pass through the sheer fabric.
Using yards of chocolate organza lined with coral organza, these wavy brim layers were topstitched with coral embroidered strands to reflect the rippling movement of the Thoroughbred athlete at full gallop.
A thin strip of fancy black braiding was then top stitched to the ruffled brim edges to give it a finished look.
To showcase Canito Racing's stable colors, a large rose curl created in alternating layers of coral shantung and hot pink organza adorns the front of the hat. This floral centerpiece is framed with leaves created out of lime green organza and taffeta.
For a final element in the floral centerpiece, a sprawling medley of aquamarine, yellow, hot pink and sky blue organza “feathers” were added to the crown.
A lime green taffeta sash lined with organza was fashioned to encircle the crown of the hat...
And a small peach button adorns the sash in the back.
The hat is stunning from every angle and measures approximately 23 inches end to end including the organza ruffle brim!
The lining for the “Afleet Accompli” hat was created from a scrumptious chocolate taffeta to reflect the gelding's beautiful coat.
As a physical remembrance of Afleet Accompli, 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 Afleet Accompli not only in spirit but in substance as well.
The purpose of this amazing millinery delight is to honor the life of Afleet Accompli 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. "Sally Faith Steinmann's works of millinery art have raised thousands of dollars and a priceless amount of awareness for all these great retired athletes. Their stunning beauty and indescribable originality symbolize what one great artist can do to positively alter the lives of so many deserving athletes." - Michael Blowen, President and founder of Old Friends Hats Off to you, Afleet Accompli! Welcome home.
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___________________________________________________________________________________ To read more about Afleet Accompli, the horse, please click on the following link - Featured Horse. __________________________________________________________________ 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 3-4 weeks for delivery of your hat in order to ensure proper sizing. To view the couture Derby hats from previous auctions, please click on the following - Old Friends Hat Auction Portfolio.
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