Horsepower

Animals and automobiles were a winning combo at Chukkers for Charity

Published On: July 28, 2010

The 2010 Mercedes-Benz of Nashville-sponsored Chukkers for Charity was a veritable equestrian three-ring circus—offering something entertaining for all of the more than 1200 attendees. For 14 years, the event has benefited two outstanding community agencies, the Rochelle Center and Saddle Up!, which provide services for disabled citizens. Held at the bucolic Riverview Farm, home of event hosts Lee Ann and Orrin Ingram who, along with an all-volunteer committee of loyal stalwarts (for starters envision regulars Cathy Brown, Theresa Menefee and Valerie Levay) present the highest-rated polo match played in the Volunteer State. This year, American polo star Nicolas Roldan, the polo world’s top competitor, joined Orrin’s Team AutoWeek to soundly defeat Team Mt. Brilliant, under the adept leadership of Robert Lipman, 8 - 4.

As if that wasn’t enough to cause a stampede to the Ingram farm, Lele Thompson and Lexie Armstrong assembled a classic car show and parade of 40 restored antique automobiles from around the country, along with guest star NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse, Jr., who competes for the only Nashville-based racing team, Baker Curb.

The patron’s tent, decorated in Lauren-esque black-and-white plaid accented with a complementary toile pattern, was casually elegant. The fragrance from the gardenia centerpieces filled the new, more open-framed space designed by the incredibly talented and equally hilarious team of Jason Bradshaw and Bob Deal, who stayed true to the Great Gatsby look. In fact, lots of guests arrived attired in breezy linen; many women sported fetching cloche hats and pearls (handed out upon arrival if you weren’t wearing your own) with a host of men looking dapper in fedoras.

The heat did not prevent guests from enjoying the Jack Daniel's lemonade nor the savory summer supper provided by Judy and John Griswold of Nero’s Grill, which included their noted house specialty: kettle chips with blue cheese crumbles. Also on the menu were prime rib, lemon artichoke chicken, broccoli, Caesar and Caprese salads, the yummiest scalloped potatoes, yeast rolls and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, made and packaged by Rochelle Center participants.

Across the field from the Patron’s Tent, another circus of sorts, was underway in the form of “tailgating” under cabanas. This creative competition, initiated by Valerie Levay four years ago, has since tripled in size with over 60 tent participants striving for the coveted Best in Show title for decorating skills. This year, the Jack and Charlene Goostree Roman Coliseum cabana won that honor with its columns dripping with frozen grapes held in silver chalices and a white-draped backdrop. Male team members donned gladiator garb while the women looked refreshingly elegant in their white togas.

This horse-driven tourney with its related events is a labor of love between men, motors and beasts, metaphorically speaking, of course. Let’s just say that the volunteer “horsepower” combined with the “horsepower” of the magnificent animals and the antique autos make Chukkers for Charity one of the biggest shows you’ll find anywhere on this part of the planet. GH