It could be the “fastest two minutes in sports,” however the Kentucky Derby might have some long-lasting impacts for a virtually century-old ice cream store on Lengthy Island.
Some Williston Park residents watching Saturday’s race could have seen a well-recognized brand on the successful jockey’s leg as he crossed the end line first aboard Sovereignty: It was the title of the native ice cream retailer, Hildebrandt’s, which has been a staple in the neighborhood for many years.
“When he won, I fell down on the floor and started crying,” stated proprietor Randy Sarf, who had secured the partnership to advertise the 98-year-old enterprise. “I knew he was gonna win. I told everybody he was gonna win.”
Sarf was so assured within the horse, earlier than the race he handed 100 prospects $2 bets for Sovereignty to win the Derby.
However how did the unlikely partnership come about? It begins with some widespread pursuits: ice cream and horses.
The jockey who rode Sovereignty to victory, Junior Alvarado, is a Backyard Metropolis resident and a frequent Hildebrandt’s buyer. In an Instagram video earlier than the race, Alvarado referred to as Hildebrandt’s “the best ice cream in Long Island.”
In the meantime, along with proudly owning the ice cream store, Sarf is a horse proprietor who’s captivated with serving to jockeys.
The mix between the 2 resulted in magic.
“I can’t believe we did it. I couldn’t believe it happened,” stated Sarf. “Everybody said what are you crazy? You’re gonna put Hildebrandt’s ice cream on a jockey? I said yeah, and he’s gonna win.”
Since that win, the celebration on the store has been non cease. The Sarfs have even been handing out free ice cream.
“We got a ton of calls and texts. We want the hat Junior was wearing, we want the hat. Where can we get it?” Sarf stated.
Alvarado’s mud-stained uniform worn throughout the race was on show at Hildrebrandt’s on Monday. And regardless of the shop sometimes being closed on Mondays, that did not cease Alvarado from stopping by to have a good time his first-ever Derby win.
“Some things are meant to be…it was just perfect,” stated Alvarado. “I am an ice cream lover. That’s one of my obsessions, ice cream.”
Profitable the Derby and etching his title into horse racing historical past is not the one value for Alvarado: In honor of the victory, he’ll quickly have an ice cream taste named after him at Hildebrandt’s.
