Past Activities

Derby Day – 2026

Members of The Pontiacs of Central California were treated to a first — a day celebrating the Kentucky Derby complete with all the fanfare and tradition that comes with it. The event was organized by the club’s Activities Committee members Jeannie King, Lori Sandelin, and Jan Bianchi.

The afternoon was filled with horse racing trivia, games, and prizes. Members dressed in Kentucky Derby fashion, especially in the traditional hat styles that are such an important part of Derby history. Kentucky Derby hats symbolize elegance, luck, and spring fashion. Women typically wore large-brimmed sun hats or smaller decorative headpieces called fascinators, while men sported classic Panama hats, fedoras, or straw boater hats. Club members interpreted the tradition in their own ways, resulting in a colorful display of both bright and traditional styles.

After everyone selected their possible winners and filled out their forms, the race began. Since there were only rookies in the room, most entries were simply educated guesses — but in the horse racing world that may actually be the best strategy, as a long shot ended up winning the race.

Following the excitement of the race, members enjoyed a large assortment of hors d’oeuvres along with a wonderful dinner meal, all prepared by the event organizers. So thank you to Jeannie, Jan, and Lori for putting together such a fun and memorable event. Everyone had a great time.