Chasing the Ace at the Truro Horsemen’s Club
Fundraiser started earlier this month supports the club and Truro Raceway Ltd.
BIBLE HILL - The not-forprofit Truro Horsemen’s Club is slowly climbing out of a COVID slow-down and recently came up with a fundraiser that might also have more people visiting the Bible Hill club on Saturday afternoons.
The second week of a Chase the Ace fundraiser took place this past weekend and as club vice-president Tammy Mackay explained, it comes after a successful first week where $1,715 was taken in.
“We’re splitting our 50 per cent take with the Truro Raceway Limited,” she said, noting the other 50 per cent is also split up – 30 per cent to the pot and 20 per cent to the draw’s winner.
The pot build-up can be huge if the Ace survives several weeks, and when reminded about some of the successes enjoyed by minor hockey organizations in Cape Breton running Chase the Ace games, Mackay said, “That would be unbelievable if that ever happened.”
She noted the idea came from new Truro Raceway manager Steve Fitzsimmons and the draws take place on Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m., with the build-up event starting at noon.
“There were lots of people here for the first day and it will pick up as time goes on,” Mackay said, adding they’re just starting to get the word around. She added folks playing don’t necessarily have to be in attendance to win, but they better be able to get to the club in 20 minutes or have someone else designated to do so, for them.
“If your name is drawn and you're not here, we will call your number, it's on your ticket,” Mackay said. “You have 20 minutes to get here. If you don't get here, you can assign someone to draw for you.”
The tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the club located at 288 Main Street – adjacent to the Truro Raceway track – or from Horsemen’s Club folks. Mackay said they also have them at Kennedy’s Quick Mart since the club isn’t opened on Mondays and doesn’t open on Tuesdays or Wednesdays until 5 p.m.
“So for people, if they want to get tickets and we’re not open, Kennedy's Quick Mart is just on Ryland Avenue … that helps make it easy,” she said.
PICKING UP
Mackay said since things have returned, for the most part, to normal following the pandemic, club activities have definitely picked up.
“One hundred per cent,” she said. “We have a lot of bookings. People are interested in booking the Horsemen’s Club for private events, birthdays, celebrations of life, anniversaries, weddings - we've had weddings here. Our hall is nice and clean, and the prices are affordable.”
Mackay provided the phone number to book – 902-895-7893.
Along with the bookings, they have flea markets on Sunday mornings, a hot breakfast also on Sunday mornings, a trivia night, and simulcast betting while construction of the Truro Raceway grandstand is being completed. They’re also looking forward to the start of live harness racing at the track which is scheduled to begin May 14.
“Then we'll have more tickets to sell too because we'll sell them during the races,” Mackay said, bringing the thought back around to their new Chase the Ace.
“So we hope to do well, bring people out and every Saturday and sell more and more tickets,” she said. “And it's a live draw … we draw live on Facebook.”