Bridgewater Is Scoring Touchdowns On The Racetrack

Horse racing is coming to Bridgewater Saturday.

The second annual "A Night at the Races" will be held at the Somerville Elks on Union Avenue, and will include  music, food, a Sparkling Diamond Event (jewelry) and prizes that include Yankees tickets and theme baskets.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Bridgewater-Raritan High School's football program to be used for training equipment, football camp and film equipment for games and players.

The event itself will feature tapes of horse races that participants will watch and "bet" on, albeit with all fake money.

Rodney Pennella, a parent of a football player and the organizer of the event, said people will be able to bet pretend money on a horse in each race. The winners of each race will receive tickets to put in a drawing for prizes later in the evening.

Participants can also sponsor a horse for $25.

Pennella, whose son is currently on the football team, said the first event of its kind started after he was approached by Bridgewater-Raritan Head Football Coach Scott Bray about raising money for buses so kids could attend football camp. That first event was held in March 2009, and raised $13,000.

Pennella said they decided to hold the second fundraiser in October to make it part of this weekend's Homecoming activities.

The event, Pennella said, is run by parents of the juniors on the football team because they will be seniors next year. But in the long run, he said, the event is for every player who is part of the high school football program.

"It not just for the varsity program, it is also for the freshman." Pennella said. "Everyone in the football program wins."

"We'll skin you and take money from you for a good cause," he added with a laugh.

For more information, contact Pennella at 732-489-3574, or by e-mail at Pennella@commvault.com.

The event will be held from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m., and tickets are $80 per couple, or $40 per person.