Unique Old Spanish Days Fiesta contest benefits Santa Barbara Police Foundation

A unique fundraiser involving Fiesta horses is helping out the Santa Barbara Police Department.

During the Old Spanish Days Parade a month ago, a local businessman, who is a Fiesta announcer came up with a contest.

Guy Rivera from Guarantee Mortgage drew 65 circles on the parade route in his area long Cabrillo Boulevard.

He sold each one for $10. The first three times there was horse poop in the circles, winners were declared. The rest of the money was then donated.

“We turned horse poop into cash that’s what we did and it was a lot of fun because the crowd got into it, and they said stop make your hose poop do this and do that,” Rivera said. “We picked three winners of $100 apiece. And then we donated the rest to the Santa Barbara Police Foundation.”

A check for $500 was presented Friday afternoon to Chief Lori Luhnow and the Police Foundation. It took place during a dog days of summer free lunch at the Guarantee Mortgage Headquarters on State Street.

Many local employees and those involved in the contest attended. They ate gree hot dogs from Dave’s Dogs.