Big Annual Kentucky Derby Party at Someplace South for SAGA Humane Society

Last weekend, SAGA Humane Society and Someplace South CafeBar held their 4th Kentucky Derby Party to raise money for one of the Ambergris Caye’s most amazing organizations (and we’ve got a few!)

LATE DAY UPDATE! The total funds raised by this party and the incredible hard work on the volunteers and organizers and by the businesses and SAGA and Someplace South…drumroll please…

SIX TWO THOUSAND BELIZE DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Incredible!!!! Up from just over $44000 last year!

Ladies and gents flocked to the party in their finery to raise money for the animals of San Pedro. Many ready to compete in one of the two events: the Hat Competition and Human Dressage. (Island “finery” for this event can vary from tee shirts and flip-flops to white gloves and fascinators) . Drinks, food, prizes – so many donated prizes – and competition. It was goofy and fun and a bit bawdy…and a dash of “gringos gone wild”…and…I was asked to be a judge of the hat competition!

Let me share some photos I took and tell you about my official duties. Perhaps you can mix up a Rum Julep while you take a look. (2 oz Dark Rum, 6-8 fresh mint leaves, 1 sugar cube, 5 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters, 1 dash soda water, Crushed ice – THAT SOUNDS DANGEROUS!) Here we go.

The weather is getting HOT down here in Belize. Hot and humid summer is here so the fact that everyone looks so proper and pretty in this pics is just extra impressive. I was…melting!

So pretty and demure but her fascinator had a secret hidden in plain site.

Oh my stars!

The generosity of our entire island was on display.

And then…here are many of the contestants. I didn’t get everyone – I was an official judge! Not just fooling around!

Look at the detail!

So many good hats, so many great folks and an AMAZING community. I have never seen so many donated prizes – the work that went into making this entire event…just incredible.

I can’t show you any more pictures because…I went home after the hat competition! I’m not getting any better at HEAT as I grow older…sigh.

But I’m so glad I could help at the event, enter some raffles and auctions and just feel the love that this community has for our small but MIGHT Humane Society that runs on only donations.

This is, I believe, the biggest fundraiser of the year. But they just finished an incredible new facility this year and there are always more and more dogs and cats indeed.

Consider giving a bit (or a bunch) to SAGA Humane Society. Maybe have another Rum Julep before pressing that donate button 🙂