Arkansas Derby 2014: AKA Horses ‘n Hats

As you may well tell from my absence, The Scoop is open for the season, so we’re crazy busy getting everything ready!  However, I finally spent some time today pulling photos off my camera from the last few weeks.  That includes pics from this year’s Arkansas Derby!  We missed the Derby last year because it was the same weekend as our Grand Opening, but this year we just couldn’t stay away.  My post from 2012 was fairly popular (apparently my readers love people watching as much as I do), so we’re back for round two!

Soo…what should we do first:  Horses?  Hats?  …let’s flip a coin. 

…HATS IT IS!

I’ll just let these gorgeous chapeaus speak for themselves.

And now… HORSIES!

I do not remember this horse’s name, but I put money on it because of the jockey’s fleur de lis silks. I don’t think I won.

Jockey booties & horse patooties.

“No pictures, please. I’m bashful.”

And that’s all for now!  I promise—a post of more written content with ACTUAL RECIPES to come soon!

Arkansas Derby Recap: aka Horses & Headgear!

 

We had a great time down at the Derby over the weekend—won a little bit, lost a little bit, but didn’t walk away with an empty wallet.  I call that a win!

Of my three pony preferences from Saturday, two of the three won their races! Thanks to:

Beer Garden:

(Sired by Tapit)

And “I Am Awesome”!

(Yes, yes you are.)

Last year I didn’t bring my SLR, so this year I made sure to pack it, & my zoom lens.  It was a bright, beautiful day, perfect for racing, and photos of racing!

My favorite of the day:

But of course, the ponies are only half the entertainment at a Derby.  Because inside, we have: The Derby Hats!

Perhaps paling only behind Royal Weddings, Derbys have been THE place to see & be seen with over the top chapeaus, sunbonnets & fascinators since 1875 (the First Kentucky Derby).  While the Arkansas isn’t quite the all-out millinery-fest as the Kentucky Derby, there’s still plenty of eye candy!

And our favorite…

I can’t wait to see what the hats are like at the Louisiana Derby; we’re talking about flying down for it next year!