Lisa and Clay Cooley were busy at the 2023 Day At The Races event on Saturday, May 6, at Turtle Creek Park’s Arlington Hall. Well, Lisa was busy, anyway.
Official-looking clipboard in hand, she was serving as a judge for the hat contest portion of the Turtle Creek Park Conservancy‘s annual fundraiser. “I’ve got to wander around,” she said after briefly greeting an old friend at the VIP reception, which was being held in a tent overlooking Turtle Creek. “This is a serious job.”
And there was plenty of head decor to eyeball and to generate selfies.
Not far away, Clay was jawboning with a friend, too. But a little more expansively than his spouse. “I’m not drinkin’ as much, not havin’ as much fun,” the mega-car dealer joked about the current business environment, with its rising interest rates. Then he changed the subject to all the colorful outfits people were sporting for the Kentucky Derby-themed bash.
“I was going to wear a western suit today,” Clay mused. “In Florida, you see guys in seersucker coats and shorts. I don’t think my legs would look too good in that, though. Especially with my western boots.”
Just then Clay’s friend Paul Divis spotted Luke Lange, who was decked out in a spectacular-looking suit adorned with a flower pattern. “Luke is in a pink suit,” Paul said admiringly. “He’s got so much confidence.”
All around in the air-conditioned tent and adjacent Arlington Hall, an estimated 375 guests including Lynn and Peter Dauterman, Claudia Lode, Sofia Crumbley, Ciara Cooley Biggers, Ben Lange, Mary Lee and Todd Bicknell, David Davis, Don McDermett and Garry Cox were enjoying live jazz, cocktails like Mint Juleps and Southern-inspired cuisine at the DATR party, which is Dallas’ oldest and largest Derby event. “This is the place to be in Dallas now for Kentucky Derby Day,” said Louis Murad, who would later conduct the fundraiser’s live auction. “Why not, when you’ve got the Cooleys and the Hexts involved?”
The auctioneer was referring to Greg Hext and his wife Kim Hext, who was serving as advisory chair. Others responsible for the event’s robust turnout were Co-Chairs Katherine and Austin Wyker, Honorary Co-Chairs Olivia and Charles Hasty, and Underwriting Chair Gail Corder Fischer.
What was Gail up to, someone asked. “Just hangin’ and lovin’ that peach Mint Julep,” she replied with a smile.
Meantime, Dallas’s original mixology guru, Eddie “Lucky” Campbell of Parliament, was over behind the open bar, holding court. “The Mint Julep predated the word ‘cocktail’ by 100 years,” Lucky was telling a circle of listeners. “And actually, it was invented in Virginia — not Kentucky, as many people think.”
Besides Lisa and Kim, the upbeat crowd included a number of Crystal Charity Ball members like Christie Carter, Tanya Foster, Candace Winslow, Melinda Knowles, Wendy Messmann, Shannon Graham, Turtle Creek Park Conservancy President Tiffany Divis and 2023 CCB Chair Angie Kadesky.
Angie, who’s revealed that the theme for this year’s Ball will be “Masterpieces in the Making,” was asked to name her own favorite masterpiece. After thinking for a moment, the mother of six replied, “‘Mother and Child,’ by Mary Cassatt.”
Soon enough it was time for the contest winners to be announced, to be followed by the broadcast of the 149th Kentucky Derby on the big-screen TVs, and then Louis’ live auction. Tiffany told the crowd — including Sarah Dodd, Lee Bailey, Doris Jacobs, Amanda Ward, Peggy Bessellieu and Allie Beth Allman — that the 2023 DATR was being dedicated to longtime Turtle Creek Park champions the late Pierce Allman and Max Wells.
After a brief talk by DeVon Lang, representing presenting sponsor Truist Bank, the contest judges revealed the contest winners:
- Judge Lisa Cooley announced Pretty in Pink Angela Seaman and Run for the Roses winner Luke Lange
- Judge Michael Faircloth announced “Hat To Do It” winners Jena Apgar and Dr. Siavash Eftekhari
- Judge Tanya Foster announced Black and White winner Eve Steen
- Judge Kim Hext announced Flight of Fancy winner Maddie Rhone and The Winner’s Circle went to Wendy and Boyd Messmann.
Clay, alas, didn’t make the cut. Next year, maybe he should try the shorts and boots look.
Oh, and as for the “run for the roses,” a “literal dark horse” Mage surprised all by finishing first.
For more fashionable looks of the afternoon, check out MySweetCharity Photo Gallery.
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