Horse Racing Fans Pack Skinny Legs for Derby Day

Kate Swan, Mary Pat Brown and Cid Hamling

 

Horse racing fans packed Skinny Legs on Saturday, May 5, for the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby.

The normally casual Coral Bay eatery was filled with ladies — and even a few men —dressed to the nines in elaborately decorated hats spilling with flowers and feathers.

Just before 6 p.m., the crowd rose to its feet to join in singing the traditional pre-race tune “My Old Kentucky Home,” and the Run for the Roses was underway.

After a quick mile and a half, pre-race favorite Street Sense came from second-to-last place to claim victory.

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Anne Mahoney and Sally Bolhaus

Hard Spun crossed the finish line second, followed by Curlin, and the excitement was over. But not at Skinny Legs, where racing fans enjoyed a complimentary meal of spiral ham and corn pudding.

Kentucky-native Mary Pat Brown was on hand once again, mixing up her famous mint juleps. While the day was a success, there was definitely something — or rather someone — missing, according to Brown.

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Gigi Doherty and Lily Francis

Dougie Missed
“We all missed Dougie (Sica),” said Brown, about her late husband and former Skinny Legs co-owner, who passed away last year.

Sica was an avid horse racing fan and all tips earned at the mint julep table were donated to the V.I. Community Cooperative Thoroughbred Retirement Effort (VICCTRE) in his name, Brown explained.

Since its establishment in 2004, VICCTRE has rescued, rehabilitated or adopted 26 horses throughout the Virgin Islands. To make a donation or for more information on VICCTRE, check out the Web site www.vicctre.com.

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Pam Gaffin and Suzy O’Leary.
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Lori Walden and Lil Lohse