A Night at the Races supplies fun for attendees —
scholarships for Riverview students
By YVETTE C. HAMMETT
For those who like horse racing, there is just something about that adrenaline rush when the gates open and the thoroughbreds head out.
How about some adrenaline for local high school students who need scholarships to get through college?
A Night at the Races, hosted by the Riverview Woman’s Club, will provide both.
The event takes place at the Summerfield Crossings Golf Club Feb. 16 from 6 to 10 p.m. It is a foundation event for the tax-deductible woman’s club with all profits going toward college scholarships for local boys and girls.
Tickets are $35 for singles and an additional $25 for a horse. Dinner is included. There is a cash bar.
There are 10 races – real races streamed on a massive screen and called by Dennis Napoli, owner of Gecko Floor Care in Riverview.
“It’s his side hustle, and he does an amazing job,” said Woman’s Club President Heather Michael. “He really makes it super fun.”
Attendees are invited to wear their Kentucky Derby garb, including fancy hats and dapper vests and bow ties for the gentlemen. There will be a costume contest.
“I’d say over half those who attended last year dressed up,” Michael said. “We expect even more to dress up this year.”
There are 50-50 raffles throughout the evening, and baskets will be given out to winners as well.
The baskets are put together by members of the Woman’s Club, many who are small business owners. They will also ask for donations to fill the baskets from other business owners they know, Michael said.
One will likely be a Taste of Riverview Basket and another filled with wine. Other themes have yet to be revealed.
“You basically use funny money,” Michael said. “You buy the funny money, then you can use it for the 50-50s and such.”
The last race is done by silent auction, with people bidding on the horses. And for that race, people can win real cash.
“We are looking for program sponsors, dinner sponsors and table sponsors,” Michael said. “We can customize a sponsorship for anyone.” And anyone who steps up for a sponsorship gets their company name out there.
The cost is $100 to sponsor a race, in which case a company logo will be displayed. To sponsor a table of eight and get two horses and eight raffle tickets, the cost is $300.
A double-entry ticket and one horse is $75.
“This is the second year we’ve done this. It’s exciting,” Michael said.
“All of our events run through the 501(c)3 foundation. The club is a separate entity,” Michael said. “All goes through the foundation. The 501(c)3 money is dedicated to scholarships for Riverview area high school seniors.”
The club gives away a minimum of $5,000 in scholarships every year. “Our hope is to keep growing and we’ll be able to start a women’s scholarship, for a woman in need to go back to school.”
Late last year, the club participated in the Riverview mayor’s race, so it has already raised the $5,000 needed for the scholarships. The money from A Night at the Races just means even more scholarships, Michael said.
“So, the bigger the events, the more we can do.”
The club nearly sold out for last year’s premier race night and hopes to fill all 100 seats early, so reserve tickets now.
To get tickets, email Michael at hmvendorevents@gmail.com, or riverviewwomansclub@gmail.com.