Inaugural ‘Kenducky Derby’ draws crowd at Cascata Golf Club

By Cassie Tomlin

Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 | 5:48 p.m.

The races were slow and short, but the crowd cheered like it was betting on champion thoroughbreds Friday at Cascata Golf Club in Boulder City.

The Sunrise Rotary Club’s “Kenducky Derby” sent about 1,500 yellow plastic ducks down the golf course’s river. The two races raised money to pay for the Public Art Scape statue the club bought the city.

The golf course was closed for its annual resodding, so the races were the most exciting event at the golf course that afternoon.

As the trumpeter sounded the “Call to the Post,” women in feathered, bowed and flowered hats clustered on the bridge near the checkered finish line while the Rotarians let the fake fowl go.

Ducks in the main race went for $10 each, and all the proceeds from the day will help fund “The Relationship,” a bronze eagle sculpture that won Art Scape’s Peoples’ Choice award. The statue is at the corner of Nevada Way and Arizona Street. President Goldie Begley said the money raised should be more than enough for the $7,500 sculpture and the rest of the proceeds will go toward a community project or event.

Before the race, helicopters flew about 50 feet above the course and released 1,000 golf balls. The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce’s ball dropped in a hole, winning the chamber $1,000.

President Jill Lagan said she would find a worthy charity for the money.

Jon Kist’s duck won the main event and a $1,500 gift certificate to the Henderson Harley-Davidson store.

Although Kist rides a motorcycle, his wife, Char, said she had been hoping for a different prize.

“I was looking for a $1,500 shopping spree at Macy’s,” she said.

Cassie Tomlin can be reached at 948-2073 or [email protected].