“She represented a true steel magnolia.” Salutes pour in for Lexington’s Anita Madden.

The loss of Lexington socialite and horsewoman Anita Madden was the talk of social media Friday as people shared their affection for her.

Madden, the 85-year-old woman famous for throwing the extravagant Kentucky Derby Eve parties at her family’s Hamburg Place Farm, died Thursday at The Willows Health Center.

She left a lasting impression on many.

Caton Bredar, a horse racing analyst, said Madden was “one of the more influential women in my life.”

“Strong, unapologetic and most importantly Anita always honored the underdog, the person trying in spite of everything else. I will miss you, Anita,” Bredar wrote on Twitter.

Others who met Madden, attended one of her parties or read about her, wrote on Facebook about her impact.

“What a wonderful and vibrant woman, she represented a true steel magnolia,” wrote Deb Daugherty. “She will be missed.”

“There will never be another like her. RIP Anita,” Alberta Willis wrote.

Madden’s famous Kentucky Derby Eve parties featured celebrities from every walk of life and often more than 5,000 attendees.

While the parties were an opportunity to let loose prior to the Derby, they also raised millions for charity.

“She knew how to throw a party,” Rosemary Johnson said.

“Big parties . . . even bigger charitable heart,” Jill Jenkins wrote.