You don’t have to go to Louisville, Kentucky to celebrate Derby Day this year. Just put on your racing casual or derby best attire, grab your fanciest hat and head out to Southwind Plantation on Saturday, May 2 at 7 p.m. to attend the fourth annual Memorial Hospital and Manor Foundation Derby Night. This is a change of venue from former years.

An evening of derby related fun, planned by Derby Party Committee and Chair, Rhonda Walker includes a seated dinner, drinks (possibly a mint julep) and live music presented by the Doctor Doctor band.

Silent auctions will give bidders a chance to quietly compete with each other on an array of articles and a live auction promises to be anything but silent as conducted by Charles Tyson, known for his auctioneering flair.

Some items available include a Mexico Beach vacation, a porch swing bed, a gun, dinner and limo ride for six, outdoor furniture, a Great big Mable inflatable, two FSU football season tickets, a collection of crystal pieces, fitness memberships, luggage, dance and etiquette classes, BHS football package and much, much more.

There will be a contest to judge the most beautiful as well as the wildest hat. Raffle tickets are available for a chance to win a .75 ct. diamond necklace donated by Godwin Jewelers.

A special part of the evening will be the presentation of the Bill Jones Legacy Award. This award is given in recognition of the vision and work of the late Bill Jones, who was instrumental in starting the first hospital gala, which was such a successful fundraiser for the hospital foundation for many years. That event transitioned into the Derby Night four years ago.  It is given each year to someone who has given dedicated service to the Foundation. Former winners have been, Bill Jones, John Simmons and Jimmy Harrell.

The event is being held at a new location this year, which will lend new ambiance to the event.

Tickets are $50 per person. Call 243-6100, Ext. 477 or 425 to purchase event or raffle tickets.

Proceeds from this year’s event will go toward the purchase of a new CT machine for the hospital’s radiology department. According to information supplied, the new Multislice Computed Tomography machine produces exceptionally sharp images with significant visualization of the finest details, and characteristically reduces the time required for a scan. Patients will benefit from a broader range of diagnostic tests, enabling their physicians to deliver more effective treatments. An additional benefit is the reduction of X-ray dosage, while allowing for the production of top-quality images.