What Is Derby Day?

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SPACE COAST DERBY DAY VIDEO

Due to the COVID-19 virus, Brevard County’s premier Kentucky Derby-themed charitable fundraiser is now a virtual event. Still scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020, the 19th Annual Space Coast Derby Day Fundraiser will feature all the fun and excitement as our past events … it will just be online this time. All proceeds will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, Crosswinds Youth Services, HART Thoroughbred Rescue.

From this website, you can register for the online auction, buy a 50/50 raffle ticket and/or be a sponsor for the event.

Space Coast Derby Day started as Rockledge Rotary’s main fundraiser in 2004 as Rockledge Rotary Derby Day and was originally held at the Rockledge Country Club. The event grew over the next few years until that venue was no longer large enough. After jumping around, we became a fixture at the Holiday Inn Viera from 2007-2014. A few years ago, we opted to aim for an event and a venue with almost unlimited growth opportunity and moved the event to Wickham Park. As an indoor/outdoor event with live horse racing, we were able to almost double our capacity and provide Central Florida’s premier Kentucky Derby experience. This year’s primary benefactors are Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, Crosswinds Youth Services, and Hidden Acres Thoroughbred Rescue.

Beneficiaries

Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families with children receiving treatment at hospitals and medical facilities in Orlando. Each year, about 450 of the 1,700 families that stay with Ronald McDonald House to be close to their critically ill children are Brevard County residents.

Crosswinds Youth Services creates opportunities for young people to succeed. Crosswinds provides an emergency shelter for runaway and homeless youths, along with additional services like educational, vocational, and recreational services designed to strengthen skills and individual, group, and family counseling.

Hidden Acres Thoroughbred Rescue (HART) is a foster facility for retiring OTTBs (Off-the-Track-Thoroughbreds), many of which sometimes face lonely, unproductive, or even unthinkable lives after retiring from racing. HART also provides opportunities for area youth to learn more about equestrian pursuits.