Debby's 2024 Derby Party

 

Donning our fanciest hats and all dressed up, Me, Amara, and my mom headed down the canyon for a quick day trip to the Wasatch Front to Debby's Kentucky Derby Party.

It was the first weekend in May, Spring had sprung and it was a beautiful Saturday.  Debby's tree was beginning to blossom in her backyard.

Amara and Lily begged to come to the Derby party this year.  We had to miss it last year, but we had such fun memories from the year before, the girls really wanted to be there.  Unfortunately Lily got sick and couldn't make it. 

Amara and Me :)

Mandy, Lyndsi, Ashley (due in 8 days), April, and Me

The festivities include fantastic food!  Several people brought a luncheon potluck item to contribute.  Everything was delicious and the table was set perfectly with the theme!  There were red roses (roses are the flower of the derby), gold utensils, cups that looked like the traditional ones that mint julep is served in at the derby, red table cloth, rose napkins, and even a loot bag for each of us.  

Variety of crackers

Sliced Apples with cinnamon-pb-yogurt dip (I brought this one)

Hot Browns (a derby classic: ham, bacon, tomato, mournaise sauce on a roll) made by my dad, April's cucumber sandwiches with a dill-yogurt spread, Mandy's Roast Beef Sliders

Charcuterie cups, and a spinach salad

My loot bag!

More mint julep!  It's basically a quart of homemade mint lemonade mixed with 3 liters of zero calorie lemon-lime soda.  Delicious! 

Our individual mint juleps

We had a scratch off card and there were 2 winners.  I WON and so did Amara!  It earned us $5 each!

The pretty tables.  There were 3 set up for all the guests!

My place setting

After our luncheon and playing a few games, we all cast our guesses for the derby winners, then took a picture with all of us.  It was a lovely afternoon. Most people left, but April stayed and so did my little crew.  We wanted to watch the race which was a couple hours later.  Winner got $20.  

It was lots of fun to watch the race.  It went fast, maybe 2 minutes.  It was amazing watching the horses run.  They are incredible animals.  I hope they are treated well.  All of my well-thought-out guesses were non-winners. Oh well. My mom however chose 2 of the 3 top ones!  She won.  

Many thanks to Debby for all her planning, preparation and generosity in gathering us together for this fun event.  Making memories like this are precious and I'll cherish this one.  I brought Lily some things home so she could enjoy just a little of it.  Debby also sent us home with a half-dozen roses. So, it may have been 4+ hours of driving, but well worth it.