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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}

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 auction began November 1st and features six months of one-of-a-kind couture Derby hats created by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS^® to benefit Old Friends. The fifth hat up for bid starting March 1st through the 11th was created for Old Friends retiree Academy Award. For more information on this amazing one-of-a-kind couture Derby hat, please click on either of the photos below. To learn more about Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, please visit the Old Friends website to access the eBay link or call them at 502-863-1775.

This unique Derby hat auction which runs from November 1st , 2009, right up to Derby Day on May 1st, 2010, features a new Derby hat design each month that has been created by Sally Faith Steinmann of MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS^® to honor the beauty and spirit of one of the horses at Old Friends. All of the proceeds from this running auction will benefit the retired thoroughbred racehorses now living at Old Friends on Dream Chase Farm. Old Friends and its founder, Michael Blowen, are well known in racing circles for the exceptional care they give racehorses that are too old for racing or breeding. We thought a fundraiser honoring several of the 70 retirees now living at Dream Chase Farm was the perfect way to celebrate the road to the 136^th Kentucky Derby.

On the first of each month the featured auction hat will be posted on this website and the Old Friends website. Each hat will be available for bidding for 10 days only, from the 1st of the month through the 11th. To bid, please go to the Old Friends website at www.oldfriendsequine.org and click on the link provided after the first of each month. Winners will be announced each month (unless they prefer to remain anonymous) and on the first day of the following month a new one-of-a-kind millinery creation placed up for bid to celebrate another resident of Old Friends. For further information about the eBay bidding process, please contact Old Friends at 502-863-1775.

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

In a 2001 CBS interview, Michael Blowen of Old Friends was asked why he wanted to help Thoroughbred racehorses and not some other worthy cause. He replied, “Everyone has a little spot in the world. One tiny little dot. This is my dot.” Michael's love and respect for the horses in his care are evident in his every word and action, and his dream for the farm is really coming true. Old Friends is indeed a haven for the retired racehorses who live there and a marvelous outreach for educating the public about the needs of all horses.

MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS^® has a dot as well, and we want to help. By donating these custom Derby hats to Old Friends we are hoping to connect the dots by bringing the world of hat couture and equine aftercare together as we help Michael with his dream. Instead of two isolated dots, this unique online hat auction creates a connection between us. It is our way of giving something back to the world of horses and at the same time offering someone the chance to own a beautiful one-of-a-kind Derby hat by MAGGIE MAE DESIGNS^®!

CONGRATULATIONS to Helen Shannon of Chicago, the winner of our fourth Derby hat, the Will's Way"; Helen was also the winner of the "Commentator" hat that was up for bid in February. Our fifth Derby hat auction continues on March 1st, 2010, through the 11th. A very special Derby hat design has been created to celebrate Academy Award, another retiree at Old Friends and is now available for viewing. To learn more about Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, please visit the Old Friends website to access the eBay link or call them at 502-863-1775. And CONGRATULATIONS once again to Mr. Bruce Dutton of Alabama, the winner of our first and third Derby auction hats, the "Black Tie Affair" and Bull Inthe Heather", that were up for bid in November and January!

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

COMING SOON! - Our fifth Derby hat auction continues March 1st, 2010, through the 11th. To place a bid or to learn more about Old Friends at Dream Chase Farm, please visit the Old Friends website to access the eBay link or call them at 502-863-1775.

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