Fund-raisers under way for Wall's family

Funeral services for former rider Newil Wall were held Wednesday afternoon at Curran Funeral Home in Grand Island, Neb. Wall, 61, was diagnosed with lung cancer in January.

Following an unsuccessful surgery in April, Wall was again hospitalized in late May and died on June 7.

A moment of silence was observed at Lincoln on June 7, with the jockey colony gathering in the winner's circle. Fundraisers for the family have been ongoing in both Grand Island and Lincoln this month. Wall is survived by a wife, Cheri, and three sons and two daughters.

Wall rode for 35 years, spending much of his career on the Nebraska circuit. He was aboard for three of Leaping Plum's eight wins in the Grasmick Stakes at Fonner Park and was also the regular rider for the multiple stakes-winning mare Dance on the Line.

A potluck benefit for the Wall family will be held on June 22 in the beer garden at Lincoln following the races that day.

* The 9-year-old Tonight Rainbow is among the nominees for Sunday's $17,500 President's Cup Stakes at six furlongs. His trainer, Boyd Caster, is based in Oklahoma but sent Tonight Rainbow up earlier this year to capture the Grasmick at Fonner Park. Tonight Rainbow has since won a pair of top-level allowance races at Will Rogers Downs and Fair Meadows Tulsa. Tonight Rainbow won the 4 1/2-furlong Speed Stakes locally in 2003 and again in 2006.