LEXINGTON, KY - In 2003, after a devastating ice storm, Sandra White found herself temporarily housed at the Griffin Gate Marriott with a limited wardrobe in need of an upgrade for a meeting. White ducked into Anne Sawyer's hat shop at the hotel and hurriedly bought a commemorative Kentucky Derby scarf emblazoned with Charismatic, the 1999 Derby winner.
Little did she know that six years later, that accessory purchase would inspire a new enterprise to help in her larger mission to heal the physical and emotional wounds of central Kentucky women in the horse industry.
"I realized the significance of that particular year to the heartaches surrounding Charismatic and his fallen rider, Chris Antley," White said. "Both horse and rider represent aspects of my work with broken humans and horses in the racing industry."
White, who owns Bethlehem Farm in Bourbon County, helps both former racehorses and women who work in the racing industry through her nonprofit organization, the Center for Women in Racing. After experiencing her own delight with her spontaneous scarf purchase, White recently purchased the rights to manufacture Kentucky Derby scarves in an effort to raise money and awareness for her cause.
Like the well-designed fashion accessory that the Kentucky Derby scarf is, White's acquisition, and her new company Champion Silks, adds a new look to her equine operations and ties together her interests beautifully.
White purchased Bethlehem Farm in 1995, after a 10-year public relations career in Houston and her subsequent attendance and graduation from Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, she opened the farm as a mission in 2000 to women who work as grooms, jockeys or in other racing jobs. They come to the Center for Women in Racing for help in recovering from physical or emotional injuries, and part of their healing involves caring for the unwanted former racehorses who live at Bethlehem Farm. This interaction is critical because the illness, injury, addiction, and other difficulties they battle would otherwise keep them away from the horses they love and the work they've chosen to do.
Maintaining that emotional connection with the animals and at least some part of their normal daily routines helps them recover faster.
While they participate in the program, the women stay near Bethlehem Farm in a restored historic house on a hill overlooking Lexington Road-Paris Pike. Leased from Bourbon County and the city of Paris, this house was restored as part of the widening of Paris Pike and will also serve as the offices for Champion Silks. Having the company as a revenue-generating division will allow White more options for the nonprofit side of her operation. And for Champion Silks, White has a proven winner in the brightly colored Kentucky Derby scarves.
Each scarf features the Derby winner for that year, such as Street Sense in 2007, or Barbaro in 2006. They also include the names of all previous winners. White also obtained the license for Champion Silks to create and distribute the first official Kentucky Oaks scarf, beginning with the 2009 winner, Rachel Alexandra.
"I was encouraged to pursue this opportunity considering my charity to women in racing, as well as (the) potential for Rachel Alexandra as our inaugural Oaks scarf," White said. White has had plenty of positive feedback on her idea. She mentioned "the delight in everyone's eyes when they hear of my new acquisition or see me in one of these exquisite scarves." White said her new business brings her happiness at the sight of every scarf.
"Perhaps it is a healthy diversion from the day to day challenges of running a nonprofit organization for people and animals with problems. Somehow the inherent beauty of these scarves is restoring the beauty of the work I am called to do," she said. Liz Weyer, an artist who lives in Paris, will design the new scarves. Currently the scarves are manufactured in Como, Italy. White said that she will continue that practice "due to the extraordinary quality which characterizes these limited edition scarves."
Churchill Downs, Inc., and former owner, Judy Starr, donated the inventory of more than 600 scarves to Bethlehem Farm, Inc. and the CWR for fundraising. Donations above the $250 price are tax deductible.
The scarves are available through the holidays at White Horse Gallery, 431 Main Street in Paris, and will soon be in a Lexington store. They can also be ordered online.
See www.centerforwomeninracing.org for more information about the Kentucky Derby scarves and White's nonprofit organization.