The 147th Kentucky Derby, the greatest two minutes in sports was Saturday, May 1, 2021. The Kentucky Derby inspired event, Jockeys and Juleps, was held inside/outside at the E.W. Marland Mansion with a beautiful afternoon of entertainment.

The Jockeys and Juleps will be an annual fundraising event to provide scholarships for Kay County high school seniors who plan to attend Oklahoma State University. In 2020 the OSU Alumni Association provided two seniors with $1,000 scholarships. Oklahoma State University matches the scholarship with each student receiving a total of $2,000. The goal is to be able to provide each deserving applicant with a scholarship to support their education for the 2022 senior class.

The local chapter was formed in 2004, with current board members Margaret Bowman, Amy Wilcox, Katie Liston, and Dondi Rowe. May 7, 2022 is the date for the second annual Jockeys and Juleps event.

In keeping with the Kentucky Derby’s rich traditions dating back to 1875, the Jockeys and Juleps event celebration was complete with sipping a mint julep and Kentucky inspired heavy hors d’oeuvres, donning a beautiful hat for the ladies and tie/bow tie for the gentlemen. Silent auction items, wine cork pull, cornhole tournament, picture in the winner’s circle with red roses, beautiful decorations, and last but not least, guest speakers, fill out the day.

Guest speakers for the event were Rob McInturf, OSU Alumni Association President and Jessica Medina-Benningfield, Executive Director of Engagement. Jim Littell, OSU head coach for the women’s basketball team and Mike Boynton, Jr. OSU head coach for the men’s basketball team.

There were several categories of sponsorship:

Winner’s Circle: Pioneer Veterinary Clinic, Drs. Liston & Wilcox, Quarter-Turn Resources Inc., Source Fabrication and Triad Complete Healthcare, Kaw Southwind Casino, First National Bank of Oklahoma, Osage Casino, Bowers, Wilson and Didlake Families.

Parading Paddock Level: Heather Cannon Honda, OldWest Liquor & Lamp Post Liquor, Steven & Jennifer Hoak, Renfro Family Foundation, Security Title Service, and Grand Flowers and Gifts.

Jockey Club Level: Kyler Construction Group, Precision Tool & Die Metal Fab, Tyndall Family Dentistry, Detten Charitable Fund, University Center at Ponca City, Community National Bank, Robert Clark Nickles, and Damon Hunter.

Silent auction contributors were Bill and Jodie Schutte, the Kentucky Derby Package won by Maggi Hutchason. Dennis and Donna Lebeda, Oklahoma State Package won by Brian Lebeda. OKC Thunder, OKC Thunder Package won by Chris Jennings. Brian and Margaret Lebeda, Kate Spade Package won by Lucy Bowman. Special recognition to Heather Cannon Honda for broadcasting the race.

Wine Pull contributors were Plaza Wine & Spirits, Lamp Post Liquor, OldWest Liquor, the Wilcox family, and the Lebeda Family. The grand prize winner of the Wine Pull was Shelia Stransky, winning a bottle of Dom Perignon.

Cornhole tournament team winners were Steve Stobbe and Brad Liston. Paige Winslow won the hat contest and Mike Montgomery the bow tie contest with those prizes being a bottle of Woodford Reserve and two authentic Kentucky Derby 147th Edition Mint Julep glasses.

At the end of the festivities, the sun set on a beautiful day at the Marland Mansion.