About 200 people attended SMART's annual Kentucky Derby fundraiser.
By
Pam Eubanks
| 10:02 p.m. May 6, 2017
East County
Neighbors
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Inside a barn at Sarasota Manatee Association for Riding Therapy, Lakewood Ranch’s Sue Spadaccia held a mint julep in one hand and reached out the other to stroke the face of Jazz, a therapy horse.
She smiled, as Jazz reached her face forward and toward her drink.
“You like mint juleps, too?” she asked with a grin.
Spadaccia and her husband, Bob, joined about 200 other guests May 6, at SMART’s campus off State Road 675 for the Mint Juleps and Roses, an annual Kentucky Derby themed fundraiser.
Guests toured stables, met SMART’s therapy horses, watched a “Parade of Champions” featuring SMART’s riders, enjoyed a complimentary mint julep and watched the running of the Kentucky Derby before sitting down for dinner.
SMART founder Betsey London-Fish traveled from Tennessee just for the fundraiser. She started SMART 30 years ago, this year, and last visited for the organization's 25th anniversary.
Jodi and JJ Miranda, of Heritage Harbour, ready to watch the race.
SMART volunteer Megan Jones leads in therapy horse Cherokee following the Parade of Champions by SMART riders.
David and Julie Holt and Bill Anderson, of Bradenton, with Saraota' s Deborah Greenleaf, whose daughter Mallory Schmidt has been a SMART rider since 2000
Sue and Bob Spadaccia, of Lakewood Ranch, bonds with therapy horse, Jazz.
SMART founder Betsey London-Fish made the trip from Tennessee for the event. She is pictured with SMART Executive Director Brandi Ezell.
Charlie Mount escorted SMART founder Betsey London-Fish from Tennessee for the event.
Bill and Vanessa Pietsch, of Myakka
Sherry and Tom Wilson, of Sabal Harbour, made their Derby attire patriotic.
Lakewood Ranch' s Brian Babcock is joined by Curtis Ware, of Siesta Key, and Kaila Hanson, of Sarasota.
Chuck Henry, of Chuck Henry and Music, plays accordion before dinner for guests.
Lakewood Ranch Women' s Club member Paula Slicker enjoys the event with longtime friend Diana Staab, visiting from Naples. Staab has been volunteering and financially supporting SMART since 2006.
Jennifer Dagnall and Anthony Terzigni check out silent auction items.
This carousel piece made a perfect decoration for the silent auction area.
Brenden Craigmile comes with his parents Debra Starr and Hans van derKolk.
Shaun and Nichole Koby, of Parrish, attend with state representative Joe Gruters.
Wende Brown, Marianne and Dan Brockman and James Brown represent American Legion Post 24.
Marin Olmstead, Laura Randall, Richard Spielberg, , Christopher Michiels and Kelly Hughes get ready to watch the race on television.
West Bradenton' s Nancy and David Ambrose
Lakewood Ranch' s Candi Russell with Eileen Buzzard
