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This weekend marked the 10th anniversary of Watermark’s Annual Kentucky Derby Party.

The brainchild of two local business owners and friends – Tara Weldon and Russell Lewis, the event features a live screening of the race, mint juleps, and all the variations of derby hats one can imagine, in support of Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement.

Based in western Monmouth County, Second Call works to provide a better, more humane life for thoroughbreds during and after their racing careers, according to its website. The nonprofit supports rescue, retirement and research and has, over the past 24 years, awarded more than $20 million to over 200 rescue support organizations.

The standing-room only Saturday afternoon celebration was born in part out of Weldon’s lifelong connection to the sport – her father Kevin is a well known Monmouth Park backstretch manager and Breeder’s Cup organizer.

“Tara likes to play dress up, if you haven’t noticed, and the idea of a Derby Party sounded like a perfect tie in to my new business [I’d only been open a couple of months],” said Watermark  owner Russell Lewis. “I loved the idea of an afternoon of drinking connected to a televised event that only lasted 2 minutes. I have had a ‘no sports’ tv rule from day one at watermark, but felt this was a great ‘rule break’ due to the specific nature of the event.  Also, have you ever tried to tell Tara no; I don’t advise it.”

All kidding aside, the duo work to ensure the event is filled with fundraising opportunities, from the innovatively ornamental hat contest to the prize giveaways and the suggested door donation that goes directly to the Helmetta based organization.  

“Tara handles all of that aspect of the event, I just pour the bourbon,” Lewis said.

Weldon, who owns Hot Mess salon in downtown Asbury Park is married to long time Style Rocket boardwalk business owner Mike Pimco.

“Fun fact: Mike Pimco [Style Rocket owner] first saw Tara at the Derby Party, but I can’t recall if it was the first or the second one,” Lewis said. “He asked me ‘Who is that,’ to which I simply replied ‘That’s Tara.’  He said, ‘she’s beautiful’ and I said ‘be careful, she’s two handfuls.’

Weldon is also the driving force behind the Pink Party, held in support of Mary’s Place By The Sea of Ocean Grove.

All eyes turned to the screen as an in house derby trumpeter signalled the start of the 144th annual race, which resulted in Justify and jockey Mike Smith, 52, breaking a 136-year-old curse by becoming the first since Apollo in 1882 to win as a three-year-old without racing as a two-year old.

For more about Second Call, visit sctap.com.

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