It's Off to the Races...
for AUM's Division of Continuing Education

AUM’s Continuing Education will host the 4th annual Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 3, at Pinchona Farm.

This year, Continuing Education has made the event a family fundraiser complete with activities throughout the day for kids of all ages beginning at 2 p.m., including pony rides, horseshoe games, face painting and temporary tattoos. A.C. Moore will be at Pinchona Farm with tools for adults and children to create hats for the day. Depending on how the hats turn out, creators may choose to enter the First Lady’s Hat Parade at 3 p.m., sponsored by Eastdale Mall. Montgomery’s First Lady Lynn Bright is this year’s honorary chair for the event. Prizes will be awarded to both children and adults, but the overall winner will receive a $500 shopping spree at Eastdale Mall.

“This event helps to raise money for scholarships for children in our youth programs as well as assist adults with their educational goals,” said Nicole Pinkham, program manager for AUM’s Continuing Education.

Alabama Power Company will sponsor a Media Horse Race. Mix 103’s Morning Show hosts JT and Leanne, WAKA morning and noon anchor Ashley Paige and WSFA meteorologist Rob Hatchell will be the jockeys for this event. They will each have their own stick horse, which they will decorate and dress to match.

“We will choose the best dressed jockey and horse, so they’re going to need encouragement because we’re using derby dollars to bet on the media race,” said Pinkham. “JT, Leanne, Ashley and Rob need all their friends and fans and relatives to come out and support them for the Media Race.”

Other day events include designing your own Kentucky Derby Ad, betting on the Derby Race and the Media Race and a cigar and bourbon tent. A cash bar will be open from 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. and celebrity bartenders will be serving mint juleps, wine, beer, soft drinks and water.

And don’t plan on going home after the race is over – a live auction will be held after the race in the entertainment tent. The most popular prize package includes two box seats to the 2009 Kentucky Oaks Race and 2009 Kentucky Derby Race plus accommodations.

“A limo will pick you up at your house, take you to a private plane, fly you to Louisville, Ky., where you’ll have three nights of accommodations included and tickets to two days of derby races,” said Pinkham. “Then you will be flown back home and that’s your package – you can’t get a package like this anywhere else.”

Other top prize packages include one night in WSFA’s Biscuit Suite, antiques from Pickwick Antiques and one night in the Presidential Suite at the Renaissance Hotel on Friday, May 23, during Jubilee Weekend.

“If for some reason you can’t attend our derby party you’re certainly welcome to send a proxy to bid for you,” said Continuing Education Senior Director Kathy Gunter.

After the live auction, winners from the Media Horse Race and First Lady’s Hat parade will be announced in a Winners Circle Announcement.

Two types of tickets will be available for the Kentucky Derby Party: Infield Tent tickets are $10 and Millionaire’s Row tickets are $50.  Infield Tent tickets include general admission (vendor tickets will be available for food, drinks and children’s activities) and viewing of the Kentucky Derby. Millionaire’s Row tickets include dinner and two drinks, a private viewing of the Kentucky Derby and two derby dollars for betting on the media race or Kentucky Derby. Directions to Pinchona Farm are on the back of each purchased ticket.

For more information contact Nicole Pinkham at (334) 244-3339 or npinkham@aum.edu or visit the Kentucky Derby Party website.