Sunny Kentucky Derby Party at Tilman Fertitta’s Spectacular River Oaks Mansion Beats the Real Thing
There is Nothing Soggy or Controversial About This Difference Making Houston Derby Affair
BY Shelby Hodge // 05.06.19Paige Fertitta, Deanna Barton, Karen Thompson at the Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes Kentucky Derby Affair benefiting Bo's Place. (Dave Rossman Photo)
What: “Hats, Hearts & Horseshoes, A Kentucky Derby Affair”
Where: The Paige and Tilman Fertitta family home in River Oaks
PC Moment: More than 400 racing enthusiasts and fashionistas of both the male and female persuasion stepped out in high style and frothy hats creating a spring tapestry that spread across the resort-like environs of the Fertitta home. While the rain poured and mud flew at Churchill Downs, it was a bright and sunny afternoon as partygoers gathered around the large screen TVs to cheer on the winner and to wait out the jockey objections and the stewards’ final decision. And, yes, mint juleps flowed as did other adult beverages.
The uber glamorous philanthropist Hallie Vanderhider, dressed to the nines in derby splendor, chaired the afternoon fête that raised more than $350,000 for Bo’s Place, the highly-regarded bereavement center for families and children. Having suffered an untimely loss of one of her twin sons, she gave personal testimony to the value of the counseling offered at Bo’s Place.
Taking bows as well-dressed honorary chairs were Megan and Luke Hotze and Hannah and Cal McNair.
Stephen Lewis and KHOU weather maven Chita Craft emceed the spirited afternoon that included a fab buffet and a game of heads or tails in which the winner received a gift from I.W. Marks Jewelers.
Elizabeth Anthony
PC Seen: Bo’s Place board president Meredith Chastang and Patrick Chastang, Bo’s Place executive director Mary Beth Staine, Christie and Mark Sullivan, Debbie and Mark Gregg, Drs. Sushma and Haresh Yalamanchili, Beth Wolff, Donna and Norman Lewis, Lisa and David Pitts, Travis Torrence and Heath LaPray, Stacey and Al Lindseth, Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin, Jade and David Shine, and Jenny and Todd Abbott.
