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You bet your boots it's horse poker
By JOY DAVIS-PLATT
© St. Petersburg Times, ISTACHATTA -- It isn't often you get a chance to play poker with a horse. But on Saturday, that opportunity exists at the Equestrian Benefit Poker Ride and Barbecue at Lake Townsend Regional Park, with proceeds benefiting the Hernando Emergency Animal Response Team. "You get to meet a lot of nice people, and it's a good day," said Kim Martin, vice president of the response team, which rescues animals in the event of a natural disaster. During the event, each rider and his or her horse will follow a map of the park's riding trails to find five envelopes, each containing a playing card. At the end, the rider with the best poker hand wins a gift of horse-care products. "It's a very nice shaded trail and a beautiful park," said Martin. "It's a nice way to spend the morning." For non-riders, the 375-acre, fenced-in park features a baseball field, hiking trail, fishing pier, boat ramp, barbecue grills, basketball court, horseshoes, playground and shelter. "If mom wants to ride, but dad and the kids don't, there's always something to do," said Martin. After the ride, which takes about an hour and 15 minutes, visitors can stay for a barbecue lunch. Riders pay $10, which includes the lunch. Lunch for non-riders is $3. "It's all for a very good cause," said Martin. The Poker Ride begins at 10 a.m. at Lake Townsend Park, 28011 Lake Lindsey Road, Istachatta. The park is on County Road 476 (Lake Lindsey Road) about 3 miles east of U.S. 41. For information, call 754-8883 or 799-1566.
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From today's Hernando Times |
