May 5: The Conservancy to Host its 10th Annual Day at the Races
The tenth Annual Day at the Races, hosted by The Conservancy, will be held Saturday, May 5, 2018, from 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the historic Arlington Hall. More than 500 guests dressed in their Derby best and fabulous hats will stroll the sprawling grounds of Oak Lawn Park to celebrate the most exciting two minutes in sports, The Kentucky Derby! This lively event celebrates the 144th Run for the Roses and benefits the beautification, maintenance and thoughtful development of the historic Arlington Hall and Oak Lawn Park.
This year’s Day at the Races Honorary Chairs are Lucian LaBarba and his nephew, Gianni LaBarba, who is also a founding member of the Junior Conservancy. Otis Felton will serve as Community Chair, and Day at the Races Junior Co-Chairs are Dr. Lauren Ives and Sean March.
“It’s a pleasure to host this fabulous event each year, and as we celebrate our tenth anniversary, we know it will be better than ever,” said Gay Donnell, president & CEO of The Conservancy. “Day at the Races truly showcases the beauty and sophistication of Oak Lawn Park and Arlington Hall, and we can’t wait to see guests get creative with their Derby-inspired ensembles and come together in this gorgeous setting!”
Among the array of fun activities, guests will sip Woodford Reserve Mint Juleps and enjoy fine Southern cuisine while socializing over nostalgic lawn games in the Formal Gardens, placing bets at the wagering table and engaging in a silent auction. Aside from betting on the horses, there will also be opportunities to win in a restaurant gift card pull and a new, reverse raffle. The magnificent Georgia Bridgewater Orchestra will entertain as guests enjoy themselves on the dance floor, sponsored by Stuart Weitzman. Then at 5:34 p.m. CST on the dot, it’s off to the races! Guests will gather to watch the horses compete for the Garland of Roses on the big screen.
Ladies and gentlemen are encouraged to don their best Kentucky Derby Style, and take part in the competition for Best Dressed and Best Hat! This classic springtime event truly brings both Conservancy and non-Conservancy members together for a fun afternoon in a beautiful setting.
Individual tickets for Day at the Races are $150 each and VIP tickets are $250 each. Funds raised through this event will help The Conservancy care for the 20 acres of Oak Lawn Park and historic Arlington Hall. If you would like to help make Day at the Races a success and support the ongoing efforts of The Conservancy’s mission to care for and thoughtfully develop Oak Lawn Park and Arlington Hall, please consider our sponsorship opportunities.
Sponsors of the 2018 Day at the Races event to-date include: March Family Foundation, Weitzman, Trailblazer Capital, Veritex Community Bank, The Barre Code – Design District, Teffy and Doris Jacobs of Allie Beth Allman Real Estate, Sue Krider of Allie Beth Allman Real Estate, Jamie M. Bloom/Schwab, Mayne Petroleum Consulting, LLI Now, Travis Sartain/Marsh & McClennan and Stuart Weitzman.
To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit www.dallasderbyparty.org, email
DerbyChair@gmail.com or call (214) 521-2003.
ABOUT THE CONSERVANCY
The mission of the Conservancy is the elevated care and thoughtful development of Oak Lawn Park and Arlington Hall. The Conservancy, modeled after the Central Park Conservancy in New York, spends hundreds of thousands annually for general maintenance, repairs, reforestation, color changes, garden damage, plant replacement, utilities, and more on this special place that belongs to the citizens of Dallas. Funds are also raised for capital projects with in the park and for an endowment to help protect these treasures in a down economy. Oak Lawn Park has been a green space for gathering since 1893. Please join us in our efforts to give people and pets a beautiful, historic, place to gather and enjoy nature in the heart of our city. Help us care for Oak Lawn Park and Arlington Hall by becoming a member of the Conservancy. For more information and to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call (214) 521-2003 or visit https://theparkconservancy.org.
(Write-up courtesy The Conservancy.)
* Photos by Thisbe Grace.
