Space Coast Derby Day started as Rockledge Rotary’s main fundraiser in 2004. Known as Rockledge Rotary Derby Day, the event was originally held at the Rockledge Country Club. It grew over the next few years until that venue was no longer large enough. We later became a fixture at the Holiday Inn Viera from 2007-2014. With the gaining popularity of the event, we chose a venue with virtually unlimited growth opportunities and moved to Wickham Park. At that time, we rebranded the event to be known as Space Coast Derby Day. As an indoor/outdoor event with live horse racing, we were able to almost double our capacity and provide Central Florida’s premier Kentucky Derby experience hence increasing the support we were able to provide our charitable organizations. In 2020, due to COVID-19, we transitioned to a live, virtual event which enabled us to continue to support charitable organizations despite the new challenges the year brought many. In 2021 and 2022, we hosted the event live again but at a new venue, The Twisted Birch. Proceeds from the 2023 Space Coast Derby Day Event exceeded $40k which was distributed between the charities, a portion of the funds stay with the Rockledge Rotary Foundation and are used to give to the local community throughout the year. In 2024, we are hosting a traditional Space Coast Derby event that the community has grown to love.