ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — The excitement of Churchill Downs was mirrored elsewhere as fashionable hats and refreshing mint juleps set the scene on Saturday. Amidst stylish outfits and unexpected lucky wins, a derby event in Tampa Bay made a significant charitable contribution.
Celebrating a decade-long derby day tradition, attendees arrived in elegant attire ready to revel in the festivities, with a few fortunate ones enjoying some extra luck.
Tia Overstreet took creativity to another level — her hat, weighing a few pounds, took hours to make.
“Well, I wanted to do flowers because, you know, it’s the race of the roses, and also I thought flowers would be good,” Overstreet said.
But the party wasn’t just about looks or luck. For the 13 Ugly Men, the foundation that hosted the event, it was also about lifting others up.
“The most significant aspect for us is that collectively, over the years, we’ve managed to donate over $2 million to the community. That’s the impact we’re striving to create,” Dino Pinto, a participant from the 13 Ugly Men group, expressed.
As for derby party attendee Chris Ireland, his shirt showed he was all in, and the party only made him want to experience the real thing for himself.
“I used to live in Saratoga, too. So Saratoga’s got a famous racetrack too. So yeah, when Churchill Downs, Yep, I would love to go,” Ireland said.
