Balboa Bay Club Goes South for Derby Day

The Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach was transformed into a West Coast replica of Churchill Downs Saturday when the club staged its 10th Annual Kentucky Derby Day Party.

About 450 people, some men in top hats and morning coats and women in antebellum gowns and bonnets, sipped mint juleps, pored over their racing forms and bet on the ponies as if they were at the track. The party raised about $30,000 for Padrinos, a support group for Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Day at the Races

“This is 100% fun,” said Tom Crosson, derby party chairman who attended with his wife Mimi. “It’s exciting to see people in turf club attire and antebellum costume.”

Dan O’Connor, president of Padrinos, turned up in a green cutaway coat and top hat a la Rhett Butler.

“I’m leftover from St. Patrick’s Day,” O’Connor confessed.

Throughout the party, guests lined up at tote windows and wagered play money on prerecorded horse races until the actual derby telecast was carried live from Churchill Downs.

None let the fact that they were seeing the derby on wide-screen televisions dampen their excitement--when Lil E. Tee came ‘round the track, they hollered as if they were standing at the finish line. Later they could parlay their winnings into auction items such as a trip to London for two.

Southern Hospitality

When they weren’t watching the races, guests sampled a buffet of fried chicken, cole slaw, “Confederate-style mashed potatoes,” biscuits, corn bread and other Southern specialties. Some enjoyed lunch at tables festooned with pink and white balloons set up beside the club’s pool, which had floating centerpieces of flowers and imitation swans.

Guests paid $50 per person to attend the event. Previous derby parties sponsored by the club have raised more than $500,000 for various children’s charities in Orange County.

“We’re a family club and children are a part of our atmosphere. So we want to share with them,” said Tom Deemer, Balboa Bay Club president.

As part of the festivities, Charles Hester received the award of Kentucky colonel, the highest honor awarded by that state to those who contribute to their community.

Among the party-goers were Lee Adair, Don Christy, Robert Davis, Ed Greenly, Laurie Heesch, Carole Lipinski, Roger Luby, Jack McNaughton, Pamela Miller, Jeff Reuter and Jim West.