Playboy founder brings his ‘Girls’ to the races

By Ashlee Clark And Mary Meehan

ACLARK@HERALD-LEADER.COM
mmeehan1@herald-leader.com

It’s chaos inside Hugh Hefner’s bedroom.

There is a television crew and studio lights, and the girls, of The Girls Next Door, are busily unpacking in a high-rise suite at the Galt House. Holly Madison, one of three Hefner girlfriends spotlighted in the cable television reality show, is wearing her homemade pre-Derby hat — a white chapeau with pastel My Little Pony figures glued around the crown.

For the weekend trip, the Playboy founder and his trio of platinum blondes have packed enough to overflow two luggage carts, with the occasional glimpse of a hot pink suitcase amid mountains of Louis Vuitton.

The hotel staff have left each girl a fluffy pink robe with her name on the back and white bunny slippers. Hefner received a black robe and a bottle of his favorite adult beverage, Jack Daniel’s.

“I’m sorry about that, who knew?” said Hefner when told that Jack has roots in Tennessee. “I guess I’m going to get into a territorial squabble over bourbon.”

Hefner, 82, had never been to Kentucky. About making an appearance at this year’s Derby, he said, “It’s just the right time.”

The invitation has been made for several years, but this year Playboy is sponsoring a party in Louisville. Early Friday evening, he and the girls were gearing up for the Barnstable-Brown charity bash.

His arrival Friday made him the latest in a string of reality television shows enticed to the Bluegrass by the lure of beautiful women in hats and fast horses. (Or is that fast women and beautiful horses?)

Anna Nicole Smith brought her breakthrough reality show to the Derby in 2003. In 2004 she came back and met baby-daddy-to-be, Larry Birkhead. (You know how that ended.) Also in 2004, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson filmed their reality show, Newlyweds, showcasing their wedded bliss. (Now divorced, Nick has returned with a new girlfriend but no new show.) Gene Simmons, of Kiss fame, showcased the Downs last year in his show, Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels.

Hefner said he was excited about experiencing the Derby day hoopla firsthand and is planning to bet on early favorite Big Brown. As a famously picky eater, however, he said he is unlikely to indulge in decadent Derby Pie or taste a famous Hot Brown. (It’s the sauce that gives him pause.)

For his big day at the Downs the man who has made himself an icon in silk pajamas will wear a white suit and matching Bermuda hat.

He’ll wear the same suit next week at the annual unveiling of the Playmate of the Year.

He said he might as well get as much use out of the suit as he can. “As you know,” he said, “it’s hard to get me to put on a pair of pants.”

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