Kentucky Derby Party at Iron Horse Hotel

A participant at the Iron Horse Hotel's Branded Bar sounds the call to the gate. (All photos by Lacy Landre for ThirdCoast Digest.)

There was a horse in the driveway, everyone was sipping Bulleit Bourbon mint juleps, and big hats were the fashion statement of the day. As the Kentucky Derby was getting ready to race in Louisville, patrons at Milwaukee’s Iron Horse Hotel were having an honorary party of their own. It was the second year for the event in the Branded bar.

There was a $50 bar tab for the best hat and contributions of gently-used business attire were donated to benefit Repairers of the Breach (and donators were then entered to win a custom-made J. Hilburn shirt, a Lisa Hatch Millinery hat, or a Route 66 Brunch for two). Patrons watched the most exciting two minutes in sports on TVs above the top-shelf liquor at Branded. While it looked like favorite Bodemeister was going to go the distance at Churchill Downs, the 15-1 underdog “I’ll Have Another” came from behind to just win it.

TCD photographer Lacy Landre was there to take in the celebration. See our slideshow below, or check out the entire set at our flickr account here.