Last Saturday was the most exciting two minutes in sports, and I celebrated the occasion for a very exciting five hours at the SSMAC Kentucky Derby Party.

You know SSMAC from their Military Ball and their Halloween Parties as a charity devoted to military personnel in the city. So our mint juleps went to a very good cause!

Photograph by Annie Watt

The party was hosted at the SSMAC Club by SSMAC’s Junior Committee, an organization I joined last year after having so much fun at the Military Ball!

Photograph by Annie Watt

New Yorkers love dressing in theme for a party, and it was fun seeing the ladies in their hats and fascinators…

Photograph by Annie Watt

…and the men in their seersucker and bowties!

Photograph by Annie Watt

But we weren’t just celebrating the Kentucky Derby. It was Lauren’s birthday that day too!

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

The mint juleps were flowing, and Matt (my hero) kept taking mine back to the bar to have them add more bourbon!

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Shortly before the race the color guard presented the flag, and it was a nice reminder of the organization we were supporting.

Photograph by Annie Watt

And then Nick, Matt and I presented the first activity of the day: the bowtie and hat contest! And the three of us got to do what we do best… judge!

Photograph by Annie Watt

The gentlemen hilariously strutted their stuff, with attitude.

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Then the ladies elegantly displayed their hats, also with attitude!

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

After careful deliberations, we chose our winners!

Photograph by Annie Watt

Photograph by Annie Watt

Greg won the bowtie contest (he wins everything)!

Photograph by Annie Watt

And Briana won the hat contest!

Photograph by Annie Watt

Congratulations winners!

Photograph by Annie Watt

Then it was time for the race to begin! We gathered around the screen, eagerly cheering on our favorite horses.

I always choose a grey horse, since my horse when I was little was grey, and I loved that horse (until it threw me off, but that’s another story!).

So I was rooting for Fast And Accurate, who started ok and then ended up losing miserably. How many times will I be burned by grey horses until I learn?!

Instead Always Dreaming won, causing most of the group to celebrate!

Photograph by Annie Watt

And those celebrations continued long after the party ended, to after parties, and then to after-after parties.

It was such a fabulous day!

To learn more about SSMAC, and to support the charity, click here.

Next year a grey horse will win… I can feel it!

~A