The Derby is Alive and Well in Belize!

Friends in Florida know that going to Karen and Denny Somers' house on Derby Day is a tradition I look forward to, and have enjoyed for many years. So, it was very bitter sweet when I got the invitation to this year's party and knew I wouldn't be able to go. Then, I thought, "Why not bring the Derby to Belize?" So, I invited a few friends and began planning my Derby party.
But wait, no one in this country even knows what the Kentucky Derby is, don't even think about finding any Derby decorations. I couldn't even find anything with a horse on it - and forget red roses!! So, it was a bit of a challenge, but I perservered and finally found some small plastic horses at a school supply store. I put on the numbers of each Derby entry, so we could draw them out of a hat for a dollar chance to pick the winner. I drew a horse on poster paper, colored it with crayons and cut out tails to play pin the tail on the horse. The third game was a grid for a pool to bet on each horse to win, place or show. Now, remember most of us are Peace Corps volunteers, so the stakes were just a little light - 10 cents US for each square, but we had fun none the less. The next challenge was the traditional Derby arrangement that I always take to "Somers Downs" for the party. Since real roses weren't an option, I found silk roses and made a "respectable" arrangement for the table, but it was definitely lacking the Derby horse that always adorns my arrangement wearing a blanket of roses around his neck. I also found some bright pink roses to make my hat. I had encouraged everyone to make a hat, but honestly I don't think many of the Peace Corps volunteers knew about the traditions of the Derby, so I wore the only hat this year. However, all the girls said they would be working on a hat for next year's Derby. (So I guess I'm down for the party again in 2012!)
We had Burgoo Stew, Hot Brown sandwiches and Southern potato salad - all Derby traditions I found on the "Official" Kentucky Derby Party website. And one of the volunteers brought chocolate covered Bourbon Balls for desseert! A friend of mine made a trip to the US and was kind enough to bring back two bottles of Makers Mark from the Duty Free shop. I went to a nursury and bought a mint plant, and voila, one batch of simple syrup later, we had Mint Juleps!
Just before the race began, one of the volunteers went outside to have a smoke, and a bird pooped all over his arm. He came back in the house in a fit, of course. But after a good laugh, we told him it was good luck, and sure enough five minutes later, the horse he had drawn out of the hat won - and he took home the big prize for the day - $9.50 US! Now Pat is wondering if he should bring his own bird to the party next year!!