Lompoc politicians will be horsing around, but for a good cause, on Sept. 6 as part of a new fundraising event to benefit the North County Rape Crisis Center (NCRCC).

The inaugural “Night at the Races” will take place in La Purisima Parish Hall, 219 West Olive St., with a participant list that reads a lot like the November ballot - Mayor Dick DeWees and Santa Maria City council candidate Mike Cordero will have horses entered in the competition, while Lompoc mayoral candidates Dulcie Sinn and John Linn are scheduled to attend, and perhaps jockey.

More than 20 people, young and old, from across the North County have signed up to assemble, paint, and eventually ride hobby horses in a series of mock races.

Tickets to the event, $25, include a barbecue dinner, complimentary drink ticket, and a root-beer float for dessert. After dinner, each attendee will be given $16,000 in play money to be bet on the horses. At the end of the evening the play money will be used in a raffle for prizes donated by community businesses.

NCRCC Special Events Coordinator Arleen Lewis said the horse sponsors have been encouraged to outlandishly decorate their horses, give them silly names, and create whole biographies for them.

“We say they're out in training,” Lewis said.

Early entries have included “Hanky Pankey Hank” and “Dancing Daisy.”

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Lewis said a paddock will be set up to let people get to know the horses before the races begin.

During the horse races, a spin of the wheel will determine how many “furlongs” each hobby horse advances toward the finish line.

The new fundraiser, modeled after the Santa Maria Lions Club and its St. Patrick's Day races, was started to provide funding for the NCRCC and to raise community awareness of the center's available services in a lighthearted way.

“It's amazing how many people don't know about the agency until it's too late,” Associate Director Ann McCarty said.

The Night at the Races has enjoyed community support from Santori Woodworking and Belluz Upholstery, who have provided the materials to make the horses.

The $10 horse sponsorship kit includes all the materials and instructions to make the horse, aside from any paint or decorations each horse owner might wish to add. Horse sponsors are also given play money to participate in the betting.

“The horse that wins the final race will win a really big prize,” Lewis said.

Sept. 2 is the deadline to register a horse, but meal tickets to the event will be available at the door. For more information, or tickets, call 736-8538, or go to the Web site www.ncrccpcevents.info.

Glenn Wallace can be reached at 737-1059 or gwallace@santamariatimes.com.

September 1, 2008