Night At The Races to benefit Brokenstraw pool
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Horses and pools usually don't go together.
But, Youngsville's Night at the Races does just that.
At the event - which was starting to be an annual one before COVID - guests watch and bet on horse races, according to Recreation Commission Member Rick Brewster. The money raised goes to the Brokenstraw Valley Swimming Pool. The event will be held at Youngsville Fire Hall on Saturday, Oct. 15. Doors open at 6 p.m. and races start at 7. The races are not live. They are pre-recorded and provided by a company out of Florida.
"We get a CD that contains 10 thoroughbred horse races on it," Brewster said. "You can bet $2 increments on any of the 10 races."
There are other events - raffles, door prizes, and pull tabs - intended to generate interest and raise money for the pool.
"It's sponsored by the rec commission and the Friends of the BVSP," Brewster said. "The American Legion is the grand sponsor."
"Between the generous donation from the Legion and the advertising, we got our expenses paid before we even opened the door," he said.
Borough council has to pay to keep the pool running. It is not a money-maker. At Monday's borough council meeting, members heard that the pool ran a deficit of about $48,000 for the season. That may be higher than normal, but not by a lot.
"I've been on the rec commission for over 20 years," Brewster said. "The pool has never made money. It's a service that you provide."
It's a service that the borough considers worthy enough to continue to provide, even at the loss.
"We've been able to fund it as a borough for a long time," he said.
Night at the Races helps ease some of that loss. Brewster said the event brings in a couple thousand dollars in a normal year and has drawn up to 75 people.
"Every little bit helps," he said.
Past events have helped pay for Learn-to-Swim classes, furniture for the pool area, and Swimmercize group equipment. The event was brought to the borough by former Pool Director Lee Bryan, who had run the fund-raiser at other pools he had worked for, Brewster said.
"We tried to find a way to have some kind of a fund-raiser where people could just enjoy a night other than your typical raffle," he said.
Originally, the commission and the Friends held the event "on the Friday night before the Kentucky Derby," Brewster said. But, they eventually decided to spread the horse racing out. Still, those who want to "dress up in their Derby finest" will be entered in a contest and could see some prizes headed their way.
"It's a good time," Brewster said.