The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum (EAGM) hopes to have even stronger support for its second annual Estevan Derby hobby horse night on Nov. 4 at the Southeast College’s Estevan campus.
The Estevan Derby will see local businesses, organizations and individuals pay $100 to enter a wooden hobby horse into the event. Each entry will have a jockey who will ride the hobby horse on a makeshift track, and a trainer who will roll the dice, determining how many spots the horse and jockey advance down the track.
Several qualifying races will happen during the evening, and top finishers will advance to the final, where the winner of the derby will be crowned.
Much like a horse racing track, people will be able to bet on the horse of their choice. If their horse wins, then they will win a portion of the pot for that race.
Amber Andersen, the director of the EAGM, said plans for the derby are progressing well. Some of last year’s entrants have already committed to be part of the event this year.
“They know what it is and they know how much fun it was,” said Andersen. “So they’re excited to do it again.”
The EAGM hopes to have some new participants this year as well.
Included in the entry fee will be two tickets to the event. Those who don’t have a horse entered can still attend for $20 each, and they will be able to bet on the horses.
Last year’s event was a big success, Andersen said. It attracted 43 entries and they received a lot of favourable comments.
“We always love to try something new and something different, and last year was our first year just to run it and see if people liked it, so now we’re in that establishing stage,” said Andersen. “The board and the people involved are really excited, because it’s a fun night.”
Andersen admits that it can be a tricky event to explain to people, so she is pleased that many in the community now know how it works.
“It’s nice that people get it now when you talk about it. It’s nice that this is our second time and not our first time,” she said with a laugh.
She hopes that people will take in the event as a social night, or for an early staff Christmas party, or to support the people who are racing, since it is a fun night out.
Proceeds from the Estevan Derby will be directed towards the EAGM’s programming efforts.
