Fund-raiser scheduled for Rosales

EDMONTON, Alberta - Although there is a high level of competition on the backstretch, when the day is done the racing fraternity sticks together.

That was evident at Northlands Park this week as the community reached out to assist jockey Arturo Rosales, who was seriously injured in a three-horse pileup last Friday night.

Rosales was aboard Nojoketheownersbroke when he got tangled up with Ask the Angel and Tufposition coming into the final turn. Anderson Trotman, who was aboard Ask the Angel, and Tufposition's jockey, Quincy Welch, both managed to walk away from the incident. But Rosales was taken to hospital with a fractured leg that has ended his season. It was an unfortunate turn for Rosales, a well-liked jockey who resides in Saskatoon along with his wife and children, and a number of people on the backstretch took up a charge to help.

Jonathan Huntington, communications coordinator for Northlands Park, said that local trainer Ron Burrell "approached Northlands to do some fund-raising" and that Les Butler, the track's race manager, "decided that it would be appropriate to do something for Arturo.

"He's a superb guy, and everyone wanted to help out," said Huntington, "so we came up with an idea to help raise some money for him on Aug. 31."

That night, Huntington will be joined by CTV race analyst and in-house handicapper Crystal Leriger in a dunk tank on the main tarmac, and fans will have a chance to help a worthy cause while drowning out Huntington for the night.