Top notes: 2022 Derby Ball

notes TOP

2022Derby Ball

Fillies Children’s Tea

BY KATHIE STAMPS COURTESY PHOTOS

It’s the season of all seasons in the Derby City and the hundreds of thousands who will take in the festivities surrounding the fi rst Saturday in May. The 2022 Fillies Derby Ball starts a month’s worth of events, exactly four weeks prior to the Kentucky Derby. This year’s gala, with the theme “Spring in the Bluegrass,” is at the Galt House Hotel on Saturday, April 9.

“Spring in the Bluegrass speaks to a renewed energy in our Derby season,” said Derby Ball Chair Jocelyn Dave. “We hope our guests are ready to celebrate and help kick off an exciting time in Kentucky.”

The excitement during the Fillies Derby Ball itself is six hours of festive fun from 6 p.m. to midnight (or later, of course), beginning with a cocktail reception, followed by the spinning of the wheel to crown the Derby Queen. After dinner, it’s dancing with live entertainment from The Crashers. If you would like to request a Fillies Derby Ball invitation, reach out to the Fillies organization at thefi llieswin@gmail.com.

Tamara Scantland Adams, a well-known watercolorist in the region, designed and painted this year’s ball invitation, capturing the theme of “Spring in the Bluegrass.” Tamara has won numerous awards for her watercolors over the past 30 years as a professional artist.

Audrey Schultz, a Kentucky Crafted artist, created soft-sculptured horses in a whimsical twist for the centerpieces on the tables in the ballroom at the Galt House. Some of Audrey’s works have gone to the White House and have been featured on HGTV. Audrey is approaching her 90th birthday and the Fillies are proud to display her art at the Derby Ball.

There will be raffl es at the Ball for some amazing items, including an Oaks and Derby shopping spree, wine and spirits pull, and Kentucky bourbon tours. For those unable to attend in person, bidding is available with the online auction at www.thefi llies.org.

Proceeds of the Fillies Derby Ball go to support the Kentucky Derby Festival Foundation, the charitable arm of the Kentucky Derby Festival. The KDF Foundation produces educational programming and other local community endeavors, and they are supported year-round by the Fillies organization.

Tabitha Burchett Rhodes

Tabitha Burchett Rhodes, current Publicity Chair for The Fillies, Inc., is a native Louisvillian. As a senior in college, she applied for the Derby Princess program. “I was truly honored to have been selected to the Derby Princess Royal Court and that experience made me want to come back to the Fillies to serve,” she said. “Being a Derby Princess was such an honor, and an experience more than I could have imagined. The Royal Court went to over 80 events that year and even though we were going nonstop with very little sleep for two weeks, I think I can say the fi ve of us on the court would not have traded it for anything in the world.”

That was in 1990 and she is still friends on social media with several members of the Derby Royal Court. After starting a career as a CRNA (certifi ed registered nurse anesthetist) and getting settled into family life, Tabitha was ready to give back to the community as a member of the Fillies. “I joined this amazing group of ladies in 2006 and have served on several committees,” she said. “I wanted my daughters to learn from example on what it means to serve your community.”

Children ages 4 to 10 have the opportunity to get dressed up in their Derby fi nery at The Children’s Tea, produced by the Fillies. This year’s event is April 30 at Crowne Plaza. Several hundred kids will get to see and meet the Derby Princesses and Royal Court at this formal tea party. Giggles allowed. For ticket info, visit www.thefi llies.org. 

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

AT THE GALT HOUSE HOTEL’S EAST GRAND BALLROOM

6 p.m. Cocktails

Fill ies Derby Ball

Tickets: $250/person or VIP Table of 10 for $3,000, available at

discover.kdf.org/fi llies-derby-ball

7 p.m. Doors open with the call to the post

7:30 p.m. Queen’s Coronation

8 p.m. Dinner

9 p.m. to midnight: Dancing and live entertainment featuring The Crashers

TOPS LOUISVILLE IS PROUD TO BE THE MEDIA SPONSOR OF THE FILLIES DERBY BALL.

Life+Style

17 The History of Women’s Equity in Louisville

26 Gender Equity in Louisville

30 POP Goes the Vet with Dr. Joya

33 Boss Babe Fashion