The CEO of Markel Insurance was Alan Kirschner, co-owner of Cre Run Farm. Cre Run and Markel decided to sponsor a Derby Day party in cooperation with the Virginia Arabian Horse Association. I don't know if it generated any business for either Markel or Cre Run, but it was certainly a lot of fun. We VAHA ladies, and friends, rounded up Derby hats and had a grand time.
Tracy and Susan staffed the registration table. Door prizes were engraved julep cups (of course) from Cre Run and Markel.
They were pretty snazzy.
We didn't win one.
Donnie and Robin looked after the Arabian Jockey Club and VAHA displays.
Tables were set up for al fresco dining. Food was plentiful and mint juleps flowed. We were thankful that we had elected to spend the night at a nearby hotel in Ashland so weren't faced with a long drive home.
Another offering of the day was a silent auction to benefit VAHA. Items are displayed on tables around the courtyard. Many of the items contributed were horsy, but I took some beaded purses and I forget what all else.
The owners of Cre Run, the late Alan Kirschner and Deborah Mihaloff (quoted in an article about her runner First Classs), had a collection of whimsical painted furniture.
A tall cabinet had the mottos: Live Life to the Fullest, Love Animals, Accept Change, Play Games, and others.
This table had: Plan a Party, Eat Good Food and Share, Seize the Day; Relish the Night, Tell Your Story to the World, and others.
All good guides for living well.
Part of the day's program included presentations of some of Cre Run's horses. I'm not getting these pictures online until well after the event, so I no longer remember what they all were.
The farm includes two training tracks: one for turf and one for dirt.
This horse is trotting to warm up.
When he later came around the track, he was galloping.
One of the horses presented was a retiree. I don't recall his name, but he was famous in his day and still full of spunk. He's intently watching the loose horse frolic in the infield of the training track.
Deborah is on the left of the picture wearing white. This was the best picture I got of her although she was standing behind someone else.
Crownn Royal is still standing at Cre Run as of the date I'm writing this (2026). After he retired from racing, he had a brief career in Sport Horse in Hand.
In addition to producing horses that race on the flat, Cre Run has produced successful endurance racers.
After seeing race horses up close and personal, we're getting ready to go inside to watch the main event: the 2013 Kentucky Derby. I don't remember if Jim and I made any bets. If so, we didn't win.
It was a delightful afternoon.
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