HFSC's Manes and Motions Night at the Derby

Delight in an evening of horses, hats and hospitality while raising funds for Hospital for Special Care's Manes & Motions Therapeutic Riding Center. Our Night at the Derby will charm guests with mint juleps, light Derby fare and uplifting stories about the power of the horse and human bond.

Wear your favorite fascinator or bowtie, get ready to place your bets on our online silent auction and participate in the Race to Give. See you at the starting gate on September 29!

Proceeds from the Night at the Derby fundraiser will support the operations of Manes & Motions Therapeutic Riding Center, located in Middletown, CT. Our human and equine instructors contribute positively to the well-being of children and adults living with physical, emotional, and/or cognitive challenges through the benefits of equine-assisted activities. Through therapeutic horseback riding lessons and unmounted horsemanship classes, our participants build confidence, gain self-awareness and develop life skills to help them reach and strengthen goals beyond the barn.

Night at the Derby is thrilled to welcome back
Teresa Dufour as our Celebrity Emcee!  

Teresa Dufour is a wife, mom, former television news anchor turned entrepreneur that knows how to create awareness and inspire action in the public.

Teresa has been working in the news and entertainment industry since 2003. She started off behind the camera, and worked her way up from the assignment desk to the news desk.

After Teresa graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2001 with her bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism, she worked at a variety of radio stations throughout the state. She anchored and reported daily newscasts for KISS 95.7 and Westwood One Radio Network.

 In 2004, Teresa got her big great break when she was offered a job in Monroe, Louisiana. She packed up her bags and moved to the Pelican state to become a reporter and anchor for KTVE and KARD.  She became the quintessential Louisiana reporter, enjoying the culture, lifestyle and even hosting the local Mardi Gras parade. But she also covered some very serious news stories, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that devastated the area.

When she was offered a job back in her home state in 2006, Teresa jumped at the chance. WFSB Channel 3 hired Teresa as their morning traffic reporter and correspondent on Better Connecticut, a daily lifestyle show. Then in 2010 Teresa made the career move to WTNH, where she hosted CT Style for more than 10 years. In 2021, Teresa started Teresa Dufour Media to adapt with the changing landscape of how people get their information.

A native of Middlebury, Teresa is very proud of her close-knit Italian family. She is very close to father, her mother, her younger brother and younger sister. On New Years Eve of 2013, Teresa said yes to her husband, Brandon Dufour. Brandon is an award winning entrepreneur, leading companies like The Next Street. Teresa and Brandon are proud parents to their son Dante and daughter Angelina.

Check out images from last year's Night at the Derby!