ORWELL – An evening of horseracing fun to support afterschool programming for children in Orwell will return Saturday, Sept. 19, at St. Mary Catholic Church.
All proceeds from Derby Night at the Races go toward The Conversation Station to provide fun and activities for its after-school programs.
The Conversation Station sits just off the intersection of Maple and Main streets and offers a dedicated safe space for Grand Valley students.
Operating for over 25 years under founders Gary and Pat Hunter, it provides a supportive environment where children can play games, complete crafts, receive daily snacks and interact with adult mentors.
General admission tickets are $35, limited to 200. Admission comes with a buffet dinner, nonalcoholic beverages and dessert, plus the chance to enjoy and wager on 10 prerecorded horse races.
Guests can also come in their best derby attire, with a prize for the winner of the night. There will also be raffle baskets, a 50/50 raffle, sideboard raffles, a slot game, a photo booth, silent auction and the chance at naming rights for the horses in the 10th and final race.
The rights will be auctioned off, and the winning horse owner will receive half of funds raised.
For $25, guests can purchase the naming rights to one or horses in the other nine races. Guests can bid to name multiple races. If that horse wins, the “owner” receives a $50 gift card.
Race sponsorships are $100 and come with advertising in the race program, as well as scrolling on the big screen during the event.
Derby Night at the Races needs to event sponsors are $500 each. Sponsorship comes with two tickets, a full-page ad in the race program and in pre-event advertising.
Derby Night at the Races is Saturday, Sept. 19, 5-10 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 103 N. Maple St. (State Route 45). For more information, call 440-563-6327.
