What’s in a name?

FoxTrot? Hunt Ball? It’s all good

Published On: May 12, 2010

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To borrow a line from Bob Dylan: “The Times They are A’ Changing.” That sums up the transition occurring within the traditions of the Iroquois Steeplechase and the Hillsboro Hounds.  The two have been intertwined since the original Steeplechase.

In the early ’80s, the HH partnered with the Friends of Children’s Hospital, sharing the event’s earnings with the Hospital. More than 20 years ago, the Volunteer State Horsemen’s Foundation (VSHF) was established as the mechanism for Vanderbilt to benefit from the proceeds.

During this time, the traditional Hunt Ball was held during the Steeplechase weekend.  Point-to-Point, the “practice” Steeplechase, was held as a kickoff to steeplechase season, accompanied by the Foxtrot black-tie gala.

“But, times do change,” waxed Hill McAlister.  The horse industry did not have enough runners to stage PTP this year. VSHF’s leadership decided to forgo this year’s Hunt Ball, as well. The HH members didn’t want to lose the HB tradition, so all parties agreed that the HH would take over and continue the Iroquois weekend Hunt Ball. Confused? It gets even trickier!

This year’s Fox Trot became 2010’s Hunt Ball. The annual end of Hunt season was held as the FTHB in March at BMCC. A plethora of silent auction items greeted the 120 guests as they arrived—thanks to Kathy Haggard and Sherry Broome, who together organize this each year.

The ball is black-tie with the gentlemen who have been awarded “colors” wearing Scarlet tails and the ladies wearing black or white, as demonstrated by the co-chairs Clarice Tate, Harriet McKee and Sarah English. To quote petite Clarice: “The two tall girls had on black and the squirt had on white!”

The awards cemerony had everyone howling when Orrin Ingram’s pup won the Worst Hound medal of achievement for not seeming to know where to be when.

After dinner, the Soul Searchers kept folks on the dance floor until the wee hours, evidence of why some things never change. This rambunctious group knows how to party so no matter what they call this Ball, it’s always a good time. GH

—photographs by sinclair kelly