The night before odds-on favorite Big Brown made his victorious run for the roses, there was only one place to be: Louisville's Mellwood Arts and Entertainment Center, which was transformed again into the Crown Royal Playboy Lounge for the Kentucky Derby weekend's hottest party. Hef, the Girls Next Door and a dozen Playmates mingled with a stable of celebs that included Michael Jordan, Gabrielle Union and Joe Piscopo, not to mention some bona fide royalty with the appearance of Prince Albert II of Monaco. Partygoers grooved to the smooth beats that Kid Capri pumped from the turntables -- a few fellas even signed up to get an impromptu haircut from celebrity barber Darrel Thomas -- while sipping an assortment of race-inspired Crown Royal cocktails (which you can mix for yourself using the recipes below). Considering that revelers partied until 4 a.m., we're betting a good time was had by all.

Photography by James Trevenen