It’s odd that horse racing and dog racing are viewed so differently. When you boil the two activities down to their essentials, they’re both basically gambling over which animal will run the fastest over the course of a couple of minutes. There’s no denying horse racing is the more genteel pursuit and that dog racing is the seedier sport. The difference is evidenced by people who show up at the racetrack. And you don’t see a lot of women in funny hats at the dog track.

There figures to be no shortage of ladies in derby hats at Turf Paradise, 1501 Bell Road, on Saturday, May 4. The track will be bringing a slice of the classiest horse racing event to Phoenix with its Kentucky Derby Party, a daylong bash complete with mint juleps, a simulcast of the big race, a derby hat contest, and a few live races. Gates open at 7:15 a.m., first post is at 11:30, and the hat contest starts after the Kentucky Derby. Admission to the grandstand is $5. Other seating packages are available.