Festive hats top off Kentucky Derby tribute in Bonita Springs
One hat lit up in red, white and blue as a tribute to U.S. veterans.
Another was complete with horse figurines racing around a miniature Kentucky Derby track.
Quirky, floral and classic derby hats weren't in short supply Saturday at the Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track.
About 30 contestants honored the annual horse racing tradition by competing in a friendly hat contest in front of a crowd sipping on mint juleps at the racetrack in Bonita Springs.
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Debbie and Nancy Dailey from Fort Myers lit up the contest, literally.
Nancy, 78, donned a glittery green hat with lights that sparkled around a large shamrock and lots of cash. Her shamrock-inspired dress finished off the look.
"I'm Lady Luck," she said excitedly.
Her daughter, Debbie, 55, wore a hat that lit up red, white and blue. It was complete with an American flag and music box playing a patriotic tune.
For the past three years, the mother-daughter duo has showed off their crafty do-it-yourself hats at the racetrack.
Nancy won last year's competition with a horse on top of a rotating disco ball.
Debbie said it's not about winning but spending quality time together.
"I go to her house and we build (the hats) together and create them and kind of come up with new ideas as we go," she added.
They didn't win the ultimate prize, but they did earn the "most original" title, with gift cards to boot.
The ultimate prize, a $1,000 betting voucher, went to Dezarae Janeda, 30. She wore a Cinco de Mayo-meets-Kentucky Derby sombrero-style hat decorated with betting tickets, flowers and colorful miniature horses racing around a track.
She had been chosen by the hat creator, David Ashcraft, of Fort Myers Beach, to model the look.
Janeda, of Bonita Springs, was just visiting the track with family. Ashcraft, 61, said he ran down to her and asked, "Would you be honored to wear my hat today?"
"And I said, 'Absolutely,' " Janeda chimed in.
Ashcraft visits the track every day and is a self-described dog gambler. He also showed he's quite crafty with glue and a sombrero.