Down & Derby has been ranked one of the top 5 best Derby parties in the U.S.!

Laura Ladd

My name is Laura Ladd and on Saturday, May 4th, 2019, I am hosting Down & Derby, a Kentucky Derby themed event to raise funds for Love Life Now Foundation, a New England based organization, dedicated to promoting awareness and prevention against domestic violence through their initiatives.

A number of years ago I was a juror in a first degree murder case that involved domestic violence. The case left me heartbroken and wondering about the victim and the challenges she faced after leaving that abusive relationship. I decided to take action supporting women who struggle to connect with resources that allow them to move beyond crisis.

The event will be held at Serafina with over 400 young professionals from Greater Boston in attendance. The event is sophisticated, yet fun, to reflect the traditional sporting event’s stature, and the message is to support survivors of domestic violence right here in Boston. I hope you will join us for a memorable day to support this all-important cause!

Gustavo Leon

Fashion! Style! Creativity! Not only are these some of the best parts about Derby Day, they are also at the essence of our esteemed Hat Judge, Gustavo Leon.

Gustavo is no stranger to the runway, having emceed and judged both beauty pageants and fashion shows in the New England area for many years.

Leon has also modeled for design houses and he was awarded a proclamation by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for his achievements at the Boston Heraldand his contributions to the fashion/lifestyle community.

Gustavo recently received the BIFI Boston Fashion Icon Award of 2017 and the Fashion Achievement Award at the 2017 Boston Fashion Awards.

David Joseph

David Josef is a Boston-based, nationally renowned fashion designer.

In business for over 42 years, David has conquered every part of the industry. Starting at 19 years old custom designing for clients, to his expansion into New York City and selling to every major department store across America for 25 years , Including Neiman Marcus, Bonwit Teller, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and over 300 specialty stores, David’s look has always been timeless, elegant and feminine.

David’s designs have appeared on numerous television shows from the 1980s to current day including Who’s The Boss?, Designing Women, Boston Legal , Sex and The City and many more. Magazines such as town and country, Vogue, and Harper’s Bazaar have all had Feature stories On David and his career.

He has dresses actresses Cher, Judith Light.... singers Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick and Gladys Knight. To today’s divas of Broadway..... Mary Callanan, Tony winner, Beth Leavel and Lisa Howard.

David attributes his Longevity in the fashion business to a design philosophy that all women are perfect no matter what shape size or age.

Coleen Galvin Yaroshenko

Coleen Galvin Yaroshenko is owner of and lead designer for CoKo Couture . A Rhode Island Native , she attended Rhode Island School of Design and then went on to Massachusetts College of Art and Design to earn a BFA in Fashion Design. Coleen is also an accomplished Stand Up Comedian/Actor with appearances on Comedy Central and Body of Proof as well as in several television commercials. Between these two worlds, she has been able dedicate many hours supporting charities over the years , both national and local. These include The Special Olympics , The American Cancer Association, St. Jude’s Hospital, The American heart Association, The Gloria Gemma Foundation , The Global Autism Project, Sojourner House, the ASPCA , AIDS Care Ocean State and Love Life Now. dedicate many hours supporting charities over the years , both national and local. These include The Special Olympics , The American Cancer Association, St. Jude’s Hospital, The American heart Association, The Gloria Gemma Foundation , The Global Autism Project, Sojourner House, the ASPCA , AIDS Care Ocean State and Love Life Now.

Meshi Davis

Meshi Davis, also known as Miss Bon Vivant or Miss Bon V. is a California native currently residing in the North Shore of Massachusetts. Meshi has over 20 years of experience within the luxury, hospitality & entertainment industry.

From the red carpet, television, radio, NYFW and 5 star resorts, she is a World Club Member of Cunard, public speaker, mentor, actress (L.A), Socially Luxe Couture Clutches owner, celebrity stylist for the Grammy Awards and the Fashion, Travel, Lifestyle Marketing Consulting Founding Member of Bon Vivant Society Worldwide, LLC / Socially Luxe, LLC but most importantly a domestic violence survivor.

Meshi’s contributions, donations and fundraising efforts towards worthy causes started with UNICEF at the tender age of 6. A short list of Charities include; American Heart Association, Salvation Army, Breast Cancer Foundation, Boston Children’s Hospital, American National Red Cross, Royal Collection Trust, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Metropolitan Museum of Art and Domestic Violence Non Profit organizations.

Photo Opp With A Real Horse

Come take a pic on the red carpet with a Real Horse!

Live Jockey Statue

Take pictures and have the live statue ``pose`` with you. Super fun!

DJ Liz Ladoux

With 13 years of sound styling under her belt, Liz Ladoux is something of an anomaly in the male dominated DJ world. Her extensive resume is highlighted by an impressive list of national and international venues, clientele, and an established presence in the high end corporate event space. Well traveled, she’s graced DJ booths throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, Colombia, France, the UK, and China with an eclectic vibe all her own. Armed with an uncanny ability to read crowds and set the perfect tone, Liz Ladoux possesses the musical knowledge, professionalism, and personality to propel any event to the next level – taking care to preserve that little bit of je ne sais quoi that continues to keep her in such high demand!

Live Music On The Patio by Janey David

Janey David is a talented singer, writer & performer from Boston, Massachusetts. She covers a variety of musical genres ranging from R&B, Soul, Blues, Jazz, Pop, Dancehall, Hip-hop, and Reggae.

Not only is she a gifted soloist but also a skilled Hair and Makeup Artist who recently was part of the crew for the movie, Gilpin, filmed right here on the Cape!

You can listen to original music by Janey at www.soundcloud.com/Janey-David

50/50 Mock Bet

Bet on your horse, and you could win 50% of the pot!
How it works:
Purchase raffle tickets
Place them in the mason jar that represents the horse you think will win. (Hint: you can place tickets in all jars to increase your chances of winning!)
We will pick the winning ticket from the jar of the Kentucky Derby winning horse.
Love Life Now Foundation, Inc. will receive 50% of the total bets, and you will walk away with the rest!

Live Music By Louie Bello

Louie Bello, a mainstay of the Boston music scene, is a must-see for those who love live music. Get to know Louie better by reading his bio. He brings a fun, modern vibe to the scene which can be heard in some samples here.
Make sure to arrive early to be able to enjoy his set!

Samuel Reed Of The Harvard Herald Trumpets

Where The Excitement Begins!

Derby Games

All types of fun games to keep you entertained

Celebrity Guest: Miss Massachusetts 2019

Kelly O’Grady is a 27-year-old from Duxbury, Massachusetts who now resides in Boston. After fifteen years of competitive figure skating at the highest levels across Massachusetts and beyond, including guest starring in the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting in New York City, Kelly enrolled at Harvard University for her undergraduate degree. At Harvard, Kelly was the President of both Harvard Women in Business and Harvard Undergraduate Television. After graduating with honors in 2013, she pursued her passion for the media and entertainment industry and rose quickly through the ranks at The Walt Disney Company, where she worked on several large acquisition deals and strategic company initiatives before deciding to return to school for her graduate degree. Following Disney, Kelly earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. Most recently, she began working as a management consultant in the Boston area, where she advises CEOs and top industry managers across a wide range of business challenges and strategic initiatives.

In her spare time, Kelly enjoys volunteering with Boston GLOW and the Jimmy Fund, as well as watching any Boston sports game she can catch! Kelly is extremely honored to be Miss Massachusetts USA 2019 and plans to spend the year promoting her passion for female empowerment.

Watch The Race On 10 Large Screens

The Race starts at 6:50PM

Amazing Raffle Prizes!

You have a chance to win one of our amazing prizes!

Delicious Food

A low priced oyster bar will be available on the patio. And a limited menu available for those interested in purchasing dinner.