In Wilkes-Barre, the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA organized its fifth Annual Kentucky Derby Gala on Saturday night at the Westmoreland Club.
Once again, the gala took place on the actual day of the Derby, unlike last year's event, which was held the day before.
The Westmoreland Club was packed with gala guests including horse racing fans, local business leaders, elected officials, and plenty of flamboyant hats.
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the 150th Kentucky Derby, evidenced by the presence of Sawyer, a race horse from the Back Mountain, and his rider Sylvia, who greeted guests at the Westmoreland Club.
According to gala co-chair Lissa Bryan-Smith, last year's pony was a bit too energetic and even attempted to bite some guests, so this year they brought a real race horse instead.
Before the race, there was a cocktail hour with themed drinks, appetizers, and music by Kenny McGraw with The Brass & Ivory Orchestra, creating a retro atmosphere suitable for the 150th Kentucky Derby.
Bryan-Smith mentioned that people were happy to have the event back on race day, and she expressed hope for an unexpected outcome similar to the one from two years ago, when an underdog horse won the race.
The unpredictable 2022 Kentucky Derby saw Rich Strike win with 80-1 odds.
As expected, this year's derby met high expectations, with Mystik Dan winning in a photo finish and eliciting a strong reaction from the crowd watching the race on a projected telecast.
After the race, the guests moved to the Club Tent area for dinner, dancing, and pre-recorded horse races with a live announcer. The dinner tables were adorned with rose centerpieces, a nod to the Kentucky Derby's nickname, “The Run for the Roses.”
A notable part of the evening was a hat-wearing contest, overseen and judged for the first time by Derby enthusiast and frequent YMCA committee member Linda Rowe.
Linda Rowe, known for her fashion sense, was asked by Bryan-Smith to judge the contest, a task she gladly accepted.
Winners of the hat contest, in categories celebrating the best handmade, store-bought, and male-worn headwear, were announced after dinner.
Bryan-Smith estimated that the event raised over $100,000, which will go towards supporting the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA’s child-care programs. Gala co-chair Connie Scott highlighted the significance of the gala in the YMCA's fundraising efforts.
Connie Scott emphasized the importance of the gala by mentioning that last year, they provided over 150 meals and snacks to more than 900 kids, demonstrating the need for such programs in the area.
For more details about the child-care programs offered by the Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA, visit https://wvymca.org/.