While some celebrities at Friday’s Unbridled Eve Derby Gala at the Galt House Hotel had no idea which horse they’d bet on the next day at the 2025 Kentucky Derby, they were sure of a fun night ahead.
It was the 12th anniversary of the charity gala, which benefits 15 charities, including primary beneficiary Blessings in a Backpack.
The Louisville-based nonprofit provides food to children on the weekends when they don’t have access to free and reduced-prices meals at school.
Co-founders Tonya York and Tammy York Day said it was gratifying to see everyone having a great time and to raise funds for an array of charitable causes, including those focused on food insecurity, foster children and mental health, among others.
“We call it our Unbridled Eve Derby family, and we just add to it year after year,” said Tammy York Day. “It’s so important to raise awareness for the charities.”
Guests at Unbridled Eve were able to bid on dozens of items at a silent auction, dance at a silent disco, karaoke, enjoy drinks from various bars or watch a full evening of main stage entertainment in the main ballroom.
Kentucky Derby 151 marked the 24th Run for the Rose for former NFL quarterback Warren Moon. An Unbridled Eve regular, Moon said he’s made lifelong friends at the annual gala, including Bob Guiney of the fourth season of “The Bachelor,” whom he bantered with down the red carpet.
“The hospitality of the people here in Louisville, they do a great job of welcoming everybody from all over the world,” he said. “Some of my closest friends in the world I met here at Derby.”
Another Unbridled regular, former Bon Jovi lead guitarist Richie Sambora, took the stage Friday night as well as Jack Hues, lead vocalist and co-founder of Wang Chung, and country music artist and Kentucky-native J.D. Shelburne, to name a few.
“I love horse racing, number one, but we raise a lot of money for charity,” Sambora said. “People come here to have a good time and get ready for the Derby. It’s a good time.”
Moon and Sambora planned to be at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, while former jockey Michael Manganello, who won the 1970 Kentucky Derby with Dust Commander, planned to spend the day rooting for Coal Battle and watching the races at a friend’s house.
“He is one of the underdogs,” he said from the charity gala. “I’d like to see him be right up there in the money.”
Returning to the red carpet this year were the McFarlands, a Louisville family that’s found fame on TikTok. Though a house divided over their Derby race picks, they said they were happy to be back at the Unbridled gala, where they always meet new people.
“It’s Derby Eve,” Colin McFarland said. “Where else would you want to be?”
Reach reporter Matthew Glowicki at [email protected] or 502-582-4000.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.courier-journal.com ’
