Forty-eight hooves pound against the hard-packed dirt, kicking clods of soil into a night sky illuminated by the flare of a thousand flash bulbs.
The horses streak forward, sweat pouring down their flanks as the majestic thoroughbreds round the final turn, eyes fixed on the rapidly approaching finish line.
There’s nothing quite like a night at the races and the Siegel Jewish Community Center is hoping to capture some of that excitement with its third Night at the Races fundraiser.
The event, which will be held on Nov. 22., will feature virtual horse racing where patrons wager play money on previously run races that will be broadcast on a giant screen.
Though they are literally "re-runs," none of the 12 contests should disappoint race fans, because event organizers selected races from across the country that had exciting finishes, said event chair Annette Aerenson.
Visitors cannot win real money, but winning tickets will be placed into a raffle for gift certificates following each race, Aerenson said. The event is designed to be family friendly, she said, and race fans can just come and enjoy the fun without betting.
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The Siegel JCC presents Night at the Races Gates open Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. 101 Garden of Eden Road, Wilmington Cost: $35 (302) 478-5660 www.siegeljcc.org |
The racehorses will have a special meaning for some visitors who sponsored a horse and were allowed to rename it for the evening, she said. Each race will be called by an MC and the exhilaration ought to be palpable, she said.
“This is not just a typical comedy cabaret or a dinner dance,” said Aerenson. “It generates so much more excitement because you can bet on your friend’s horse.”
Food and drinks are included in the $35 admission. There will also be a raffle for a 2009 Lexus IS.
Aerenson expects the event to raise about $100,000 for the Siegel JCC. The money will be used to support the center’s early childhood education programs, scholarships for its summer day camps and the center’s health and wellness programs, said Ivy Harlev, executive director of the Siegel JCC.
“Night at the Races is a meaningful experience because you’re with friends and you’re in the community, but you’re also raising funds to improve someone’s quality of life,” she said.
