Anyone who follows horse racing knows that two Kentucky Derby winners have come from the Permian Basin.
And any horse racing fanatic can tell you that two of those trophies are at the Museum of the Southwest.
In 1959, Fred Turner Jr.’s horse Tomy Lee won the Kentucky Derby.
Then, 28 years late, Pamela and Dorothy Scharbauer’s horse Alysheba won the Running of the Roses.
Each year, the Museum of the Southwest likes to celebrate the Kentucky Derby with a watch party and that tradition will continue this weekend.
The Museum of the Southwest will be hosting a Garden Party on May 6 beginning at 4 p.m.
The event will include a garden party with Mint Juleps, Derby Hat and Bow Tie contest and live bluegrass music from the band Steel Grassy.
“It’s a great time,” Senior Director of Development and Communications at Museum of the Southwest Mary Katherine Marshall said. “We have a fun bluegrass band that will be playing. We have food that you would find if you were at the Kentucky Derby. We’re excited to revel in that moment. Of course, we’ll be watching the race live on TV. We’ll be playing some outside fun games. We’ll have a hat and bowtie contest to those who come well-dressed.”
Tickets are $75 for museum members and $100 for non-members and can be purchased online at tinyurl.com/2p8du252.
“We’re excited to celebrate the 149th running of the Kentucky Derby here in Midland,” Marshall said. “The Turner Mansion is home to two Kentucky Derby winning horses, Tomy Lee in 1959 and Alysheba in ‘87. They have ties to Midland and the Turner family and Scharbauer family. Each year, when they have the Running of the Roses, we like to celebrate that part of history and the sport. We hope that everyone will come out and join us.”
The event has been held each year since 2016.
“Really, it’s an opportunity to get together and celebrate an exciting part of history,” Marshall said. “It’s also a fundraiser for the museum. We have the largest collection of Kentucky Derby memorabilia, outside of Churchill Downs.”
The museum contains many other memorabilia and objects from the Kentucky Derby.
“As an equestrian, personally, it’s really quite grand,” Marshall said. “It’s not something that’s an everyday occurrence and they’re quite lovely. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for folks to get to come and see.”
For more information about the event, go to tinyurl.com/2pkwdx74.
If you go
- What: Kentucky Derby Viewing party.
- When: 4 p.m. May 6.
- Where: Museum of the Southwest.
- Where to purchase tickets: tinyurl.com/2p8du252
