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______________________________ Current Auction Hat The
Derby Hat Collection by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® ______________________________
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Please join us once again for The
Seventh Annual
The
“Genuine Reward” Hat For the seventh consecutive year, MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® of Cape Cod and Old Friends of Kentucky are teaming up again for an unparalleled online shopping experience that began November 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 Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® to benefit the retired racehorses of Old Friends.
The
fifth hat up for bid in our auction series honors Genuine Reward,
one of only two live foals produced by 1980 Kentucky
Derby-winning filly, Genuine Risk. Discovered through an
advertisement on Craigslist, the 22-year old stallion arrived at
Dream Chase Farm in July 2015 thanks to the combined efforts of a
team of Old Friends supporters including “Seabiscuit”
author, Laura Hillenbrand and Kentucky Downs president, Corey
Johnsen.
The
auction for the “Genuine Reward” chapeau is now
closed. Please stay tuned for the next hat up for bid from April
1st through the 11th.
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The story of Genuine Reward's life prior to his arrival at Old Friends is filled with more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride. Genuine Reward's dam, Genuine Risk, won the 1980 Kentucky Derby and was only the second filly at that time to ever win the race. Retired at four, she was bred with great expectations to a number of notable stallions including Secretariat. Sadly, after 18 years of breeding attempts, Genuine Risk produced only two live foals. With Rahy as his sire, Genuine Reward was the first of those two foals. Full of personality and the spitting image of his dam except slightly smaller, he came into the world on May 15, 1993. Soon thereafter he had to undergo colic surgery. Despite concerted efforts by trainer Bill Mott, in the years to come the colt was plagued by bucked shins and breathing problems and never made it to the racetrack. A stud career took Genuine Reward from Virginia to Sheridan, Wyoming, and in June 2015 it came as a surprise when he was discovered on Craigslist by “Seabiscuit” author Laura Hillenbrand, a longtime supporter of Old Friends, as well as others. Hillenbrand was quoted in a June 30, 2015 Paulick Report as saying, “On Sunday I was scrolling down my Facebook feed when I saw a stranger's post about Genuine Reward being for sale. I clicked on the link and saw the price: $500. That distressed me, because it's a price low enough to draw killer buyers who would whisk the horse off to a slaughterhouse. That very second, I grabbed my phone and called [Blowen]. I told him whatever it cost, I'd pay to purchase the horse, vet him, and ship him to Old Friends, if they could take him. Michael was happy to say yes.”
Since his arrival, Genuine Reward has settled in well at Old Friends. Volunteer Beth Shannon described Genuine Reward in the following way: “He's really smart, really beautiful, really sweet. He's a love, and very social.”
A
very special chapeau was needed to honor this cherished son of
Genuine Risk and celebrate his new life at Old Friends. An
elegant Derby design was created to showcase the stallion's
bright chestnut coloring and kind temperament, using his mother's
distinctive racing silk colors of green and white (Bertram and
Diana Firestone) for the trims.
The “Genuine Reward” hat was created as a flat wide brim design, using white dupioni silk for the brim foundation of the hat and white silk organza for the top.
Alternating layers of ruffled white, chocolate and gold organza were added to the outer brim to reflect the movement of the Thoroughbred athlete at full gallop.
A fancy chocolate braiding was then top stitched to the ruffled brim edges.
A large dahlia flower, a new trim innovation by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS®, was created especially for Genuine Reward. The flower was sculpted out of white silk organza with 22 petals to reflect the stallion's age when he was discovered on Craigslist and brought home to Old Friends.
A medley of Spring green organza and satin leaves was then fashioned to frame the dahlia.
Three 2-tone chocolate and green organza “feathers”, a MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS® trademark, were carefully stitched, layered and then shaped to add the perfect finishing touch to the floral trim.
A bright emerald green organza-covered taffeta sash, lined with chocolate taffeta, was fashioned to encircle the crown of the hat.
A tiny chocolate button was added to the back for the finishing touch.
The“Genuine Reward” hat measures nearly 25 inches across inclusive of the ruffled brim layers.
As a physical remembrance of Genuine Reward, several strands of the stallion's tail hair were braided and woven into the trim of the hat, creating a unique, one-of-a-kind Derby chapeau that captures Genuine Reward not only in spirit but in substance as well. The purpose of this amazing millinery delight is to honor the life of Genuine Reward 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, Genuine Reward!
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The
auction for the “Genuine Reward” chapeau is now
closed. Please stay tuned for the next hat up for bid from April
1st through the 11th.
To read more about Genuine Reward, 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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