Latest Piece in 'Hats off to the Horses' Fundraiser Released

Photo courtesy of Old Friends/EquiSport
Edited Press release
The online fashion auction "Hats off to the Horses: The Road to the Derby" continued on Dec. 1 with a third Derby chapeau going on the virtual auction block to raise money for Old Friends Equine in Georgetown, Ky.
This new hat was inspired by the three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game on Dude, who now resides at Old Friends. With earnings of just under $6.5 million, the Dude won 16 of 34 starts, including 14 graded stakes and, notably, two editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup and Awesome Again Stakes, respectively. 
This hat crafted in his honor will be up for bid from December 1st through December 11th.
This is the sixth consecutive year that Old Friends has joined with milliner Sally Faith Steinmann of the Massachusetts-based Maggie Mae Designs to auction off six handcrafted Kentucky Derby hats between November and April, each inspired by one of the non-profit organization's 150 retired racehorses.  
The "Game On Dude" is a fedora-flavored crown with a 24-inch end-to-end brim fashioned out of chocolate-colored dupioni silk and a swirling black underbrim. The hat is adorned with a pumpkin and cinnamon shaded rose curl that is nestled in royal blue satin and organza leaves, and eight black silk organza "feathers" lined with shimmering gold organza to reflect Game on Dude's eight Grade 1 wins. 
"Sally's works of millinery art have raised thousands of dollars for Old Friends and a priceless amount of awareness for all these great retired athletes,” said Michael Blowen, Old Friends president and founder. "We're excited to be working with her for a sixth wonderful year."
Bidding on the "Game on Dude" will begin at 8 pm on December 1st and will close on December 11.
Interested bidders can go to the Old Friends website at www.oldfriendsequine.org.