Kiwanis Club of Hesperia to hold Horse Derby fundraiser Friday

The Kiwanis Club of Hesperia is hoping residents are willing to literally roll the dice for a good cause.

The club is holding their fifth annual Horse Derby Night on Friday to raise money for local scholarship and youth programs.

“We have people who come up from Pomona,” said Jessica Carrillo, president-elect of the Kiwanis Club of Hesperia and chairwoman for the Derby Night fundraiser. “It’s that much fun.”

Sponsors pay for — or even build — their own hobby horses, which then “race” along a grid based on who wins each roll of gigantic dice. Gamblers win raffle tickets for donated prizes.

The Kiwanians are still looking for donations and raffle prizes. Previous years’ raffle prizes have included gift baskets, gift certificates and a 42” flat-screen TV.

The event is typically a very successful fundraiser, Carrillo said, along with the Kiwanis’ golf tournament each April.

The Kiwanis Club of Hesperia’s Horse Derby Night, co-sponsored by the Hesperia Recreation and Park District, will be held from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Percy Bakker Center, 9333 E Avenue. Tickets are $20 and include dinner and 10 tokens used to bet on the races. Call (760) 900-4550 for more information.

Beau Yarbrough may be reached at (760) 956-7108 or at beau@HesperiaStar.com. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Hesperia.Star.