Deadly Derby Murder Mystery
The Louisville Derby, otherwise known as The Run for Red Roses, is a famous horse race held annually in Louisville, Kentucky. The long-awaited day at Gotham Downs is just around the corner. Not known for camaraderie within the box seats of Millionaire’s Row, many of the thoroughbred owners have jaded histories together. Bad business deals, betrayal, and retaliations have recently plagued the members of the elite circle so this year at the Gotham Downs Gala, look out for mayhem.
Nevertheless, the paddocks are ready, the silks are pressed, and the horses are dying to get to the starting gate. It’s time to shop for stunning apparel for the big night before the race, as you would never allow your foes to outshine you. This is where your story begins.
have you found the perfect hat?
Invited Guests
All players are asked to wear a hat worthy of the Kentucky Derby - have fun with it!
Clark Crump
Owner, Moon Ranger
Moon Ranger is the undefeated horse and number one pick of the Louisville Derby this year. Clark Crump is the horse’s arrogant owner and founder of Cerebral Consultants—a management consulting firm. Clark is often stressed out and can be difficult to be around for extended periods.
Sunny Barbaro
Socialite
Where there is caviar, diamonds and glitz, you’ll find Sunny Barbaro. Sunny is a jet-setting socialite who travels to the biggest parties around the globe. The Gotham Downs Gala is next on her busy schedule.
Jules Meriwether
Gossip Columnist, New York Daily
Jules Meriwether is a tenacious gossip columnist and famous blogger. If there is a scoop to be uncovered, she will be there with bells on and an audio recording device in her hand. If you have skeletons in your closet, make sure to steer clear of this daunting diva.
Fern Belmont
Socialite
Fern Belmont is the overly friendly trendsetter from Beverly Hills. With a famous cosmetic surgeon husband, Fern is used to hobnobbing with the stars and always finds a way to gain access to the place-to-be—even if she has to sneak in like she did at a White House dinner party.
Diane Vich
Racing Analyst
Diane Vich is the new Director of Programming and Senior Racing Analyst at Gotham Downs. Diane was a writer and editor for The Thoroughbred Monthly for many years until she was forced to resign for unknown reasons. Diane has a feisty personality and holds an Ivy League degree.
Rose Withers
B Movie Star
If you are a fan of cheesy slasher films, you have seen Rose Withers’ face before. This scream queen is also an entrepreneur who is currently working on a ground-breaking social media app called Capture.
Gail Gallant
Owner, Itsy Bitsy Mitzy
Gail Gallant is the plucky owner of the long shot horse Itsy Bitsy Mitzy. Gail is a founder of the fashion line Spicy – a contemporary casual wear and dress clothing brand. Gail is used to getting whatever she wants in life. Nobody knows how she would react to being told no—because it’s never happened.
Ben Buck
Owner, Thunder Thighs
Ben Buck is one of the most high-profile billionaires in the inner circle of the horse racing industry. His stallion Take the Bank won the Louisville Derby in 2008, and he’s been chasing the adrenaline ever since.
Stew Pegasus
Venture Capitalist
Like a financial Santa Claus, Stew Pegasus finds joy in bestowing financial gifts to worthy entrepreneurs. Stew is a hardworking businessman who works from sun up to sun down. Stew hasn’t taken a break in months and the tabloids are shocked he is attending the Gotham Downs Gala.
Gigi Grindstone
Owner, Horrible Twilight
GiGi Grindstone, the heiress of Grindstone Tires, is the gregarious owner of one of the highly ranked horses for the big race, Horrible Twilight. Rumor has it that GiGi’s handlers have been dosing her horse with anabolic steroids, but to date, Horrible Twilight has not tested positive.
Barbara Barton
Heiress
Barbara Barton is the sole heiress of the Chamblee Soup fortune. She recently gained interest in horse breeding and has been importing stallions from Europe to the U.S. for breeding purposes. She is opening a private stud farm in San Diego, California called Barton Stallions and is attending the Gotham Downs Gala to make connections and gain clients.
Guinevere Gotham
Comedienne
Guinevere Gotham is a famous standup comedienne and former star of CBC Network’s comedy show Saturday Night Lively. Guinevere is fun to be around as she is always practicing her newest routine on her friends. Guinevere is an heiress of the legendary Gotham family from Louisville.
Cathy Churchill
Entrepreneur
Cathy Churchill is the founder of Red Dragon Pharmaceuticals, an online pharmacy of weight loss medication and anabolic steroids. Cathy has earned a tremendous stash of cash, but is widely disliked for how she acquired her fortune.
Stone Epsom
Owner, Midnight Jailbird
Stone Epsom is the owner of a front runner of the Louisville Derby this year, Midnight Jailbird. Stone got into a skirmish at the Gotham Downs Gala three years ago and ended up in jail – hence, he named his stallion in honor of his bad fortune.
Fox Pharaoh
Event Planner
Fox Pharaoh is the anxious event planner of the Gotham Downs Gala. Fox is a control freak and has to have hands in every aspect of the event from lighting to umbrella stands. Stress is Fox’s middle name.
Smokey Garland
Jockey, Moon Ranger
Smokey Garland is the mysterious jockey of Moon Ranger, the odds on favorite in the Louisville Derby this year. Smokey stands in the shadows and is known for eavesdropping on others’ conversations.
Binkie Brush
Owner, Cyclone of Terror
Binkie Brush is the fun-loving owner of Cyclone of Terror, the fourth favorite horse in the Louisville Derby this year. Binkie doesn’t have a serious bone in her body and never allows anything to get her down. No matter the situation, she loves to dance when music plays and others find that to be quite charming.
Lewis Ferdinand
Owner, Magic Mane
Lewis Ferdinand is the owner of the uber-aggressive horse Magic Mane. He has been accused of dosing his horse with performance enhancing medication for each race this season, but has yet to have a positive test. Lewis can be just as aggressive as his horse, so watch yourself around this multi-millionaire.
Tasha Black
ER Physician
Tasha Black is the glamorous emergency room physician at Louisville Memorial Hospital. Tasha runs a tight ship in the ER during her shift. Her colleagues respect her, but despise her. Tasha comes from old money and her family has had a spot on Millionaire’s Row since Gotham Downs opened.
Polly Preakness
Owner, Rags to Riches
Rags to Riches used to be the favorite horse for the Louisville Derby until she was scratched from two previous stakes races in a row this season. Both times, it was due to the jockey getting sick during the final minutes. Polly hired a new jockey for this race, so there is no telling what will happen with this undefeated horse. Polly seems to be handling the stress well.
Sally Spires
Owner, Pilgrim Promenade
Sally Spires is the nerdy owner of Pilgrim Promenade. Known for her love of Thanksgiving, Sally is an amateur chef and wannabe reality television star. She has auditioned for every cooking show on the air, and hasn’t been chosen yet. She is considering making her own cooking show.
Carl Cannonade
Owner, Champagne Caviar
Carl Cannonade is the dashing owner of Champagne Caviar. Carl’s horse is a mid-runner for the Louisville Derby, so anything can happen the big day of the race. Carl is a constant one-upper to his friends in the elite inner circle, so people tend to avoid Carl at all costs.
R.C. King
Horse Trainer
R.C. King is the highly sought after professional horse trainer who has won a Triple Crown, four Louisville Derbies, six Oak Hill Stakes, and five Kentucky Preakness’s. This year, R.C. is training Moon Ranger, who is the odds on favorite in the big race.
Mel Jones
Horse Trainer
Mel Jones is the horse trainer who wears a constant cloud of bad luck. Mel is great with horses and has trained them her entire life, as she grew up in a family of jockeys. However, Mel’s horses have never won a race. Mel is the trainer for Itsy Bitsy Mitzy.
Eric Ebony
Owner, Utopia
Utopia is a long shot horse this year at the Louisville Derby. Eric Ebony is the debonair owner who spews compliments to everybody in his hearing range. Eric is great to be around, but his flattery starts to sound phony after a short while.
