Gillian Hearst Celebrates the Kentucky Derby at T-Squared Social in New York City (PLUS: Our Favorite Mint Julep Recipe)
Gillian Hearst brought the best of the Manhattan scene to T-Squared Social for her annual Birthday Derby party, featuring drinks from Peroni, Bulleit, and Maker’s Mark, plus Southern classic snacks, and a dramatic Triple Crown opener broadcast live from Churchill Downs. We also include a recipe for a derby day must-have, the mint julep.
The Kentucky Derby Arrives in Manhattan
Hosts Naeem Delbridge, Ryan Jansen, Gillian Hearst, and Scott Buccheit with a guest.
For one afternoon every spring, the iconic Kentucky Derby transforms from a horse race into something closer to a national mood board. Seersucker returns. Mint juleps become mandatory. In New York City, one of the city’s more impressive Derby gatherings unfolded at T-Squared Social, where the entertainment venue hosted its third annual Derby celebration alongside a birthday fête honoring philanthropist Gillian Hearst, hosted by Naeem Delbridge and Scott Buccheit. As Churchill Downs broadcast live from Louisville on an array of televisions, guests moved between hot buffets, cocktail bars, and a VIP lounge in elaborate hats and suits.
Guests at Gillian Hearst’s 3rd Annual Kentucky Derby Party at T-Squared Social.
The crowd reflected Gillian’s personal network as well as horse racing enthusiasts in the city. Among those attending included NEXUS CEO Christopher Anand and his wife, Jennifer, Alex and Keytt Lundqvist, Tracy Yorks and Gustaf Demarchelier, DJ and designer Timo Weiland, actress Geneva Carr, actor Joseph Mazzello, celebrity trainer David Kirsch, New York State Senator Erik Bottcher, as well as Glita founder Jessee O. and Dine with Dez creator Desmond Sam.
As race time approached, conversations slowed and attention shifted collectively toward Churchill Downs, where this year’s Kentucky Derby delivered the kind of unpredictability that sustains its mythology.
Guests at Gillian Hearst’s 3rd Annual Kentucky Derby Party at T-Squared Social.
Long shot Golden Tempo surged from the back of the field in dramatic fashion to secure an unlikely victory, instantly transforming the atmosphere inside T-Squared Social from casual social gathering to full-volume celebration— the room rose to screams as the horses rounded the final corner. The race also entered the history books as trainer Cherie DeVaux became the first woman ever to train a Kentucky Derby winner.
T-Squared Social is a Sports Bar Suitable for a New York Crowd
T-Squared Social in New York City. Image: via Perkins Eastman.
Just off 5th Avenue and tucked between Times Square and Grand Central Terminal, T-Squared Social has emerged as part sports bar, part nightlife spot, part social club, with the Derby Day celebration taking full advantage of the space. Bars poured Bulleit Bourbon and cocktails made with Maker’s Mark, alongside chilled Peroni while guests circulated through trays of fried chicken, spicy cauliflower, and elevated southern classics.
One of two T-Squared Social locations (the other one in St. Andrews, Scotland), the New York City space features interior design by ForrestPerkins— a mix of raw details and record-setting elements including the 50-foot-long artwork and a 200-inch flatscreen television (New York City’s largest). A sprawling bar, state-of-the-art golf simulators, bowling lanes, and darts complete the space.
In preparation for the next leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes (taking place later this month in Maryland), we’re including the signature cocktail of the Derby: the mint julep.
Classic Mint Julep Recipe
Ingredients
2 oz Angel's Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Port Wine Barrel (750ml from $49.99 at Angel’s Envy)
8–10 fresh mint leaves
1/2 oz simple syrup
Crushed ice
Fresh mint sprig for garnish
Instructions
Gently muddle mint leaves and simple syrup in a julep cup or rocks glass.
Fill the glass generously with crushed ice.
Pour bourbon over the ice and stir until the exterior frosts.
Add additional crushed ice to form a mound on top.
Garnish with a fresh mint sprig and serve immediately.
