Elloree, SC (WLTX) - In this small town in Orangeburg, horse racing is the main event.
Elloree hosts the Elloree Trials, a horse-racing event that’s been going on for more than half a century.
Horses and jockeys fly like the wind at the Elloree Training Center to all get ready for the big event.
They're expecting five-thousand people to show up to the 56th racing event.
David Milligan is one of the jockeys who's helping train these horses.
"I like riding. That's kind of why I got into it. Little bit of mental therapy with horses and nature. They're not competing for money or anything. They're not yet to be race horses. They're still kind of training. They'll put them in a race to give them an idea on how it feels and those like myself to go out there and see what it feels like," explained Milligan.
Rebecca Campbell is 18-years-old is wanting to make a name for herself on the track.
"They think I can’t handle it. It was always me being a girl was always a problem because it's all guys. I'm just as good as they are and I want to prove that,” said Campbell.
The town says the committee for the horse racing began in May of 1989.
The organizations that helped put on the Elloree Trials were the Masons, Lions, The Knights of Pythias, Elloree Athletic Club, Elloree Garden Club, Evergreen Garden Club, and the Mentor Book Club.
Sarah Ann Parlor says it put a little giddy-up in the 700-population town.
“This is the pride and joy of Elloree. The Elloree Trials is one of the biggest events Elloree sponsors. It's people to come, do business in Elloree, and to see what Elloree has," said Parlor.
Along with the horse races, the towns says there will be skydiving events and vendors to get merchandise from.
Parlor says it makes a huge economic impact but the best part for her is that the money collected at Saturday’s races, goes directly back to the community with local charities.
She says the money goes to “carefully selected students for Scholarships to College, send representatives to Boys & Girls State, GCSC Camp Wildwood, and many more.”
While the racing is just for fun, Rebecca is just happy to hang with her four legged friends.
"I mean you can't get much better. I'm here for the horses. How much more exciting can it get," said Campbell.
The races will be this Saturday on March 24th and begins at 8 am. Tickets are $20.