Fundraiser at Laurel Park for ailing jockey Martinez raises nearly $10,000

Last Saturday’s fundraiser at Laurel Park for jockey Fray Martinez raised nearly $10,000. The silent auction of racing memorabilia raised more than $9,000, and another $1,000 came from donations and a raffle.

Additionally, an anonymous $10,000 donation was made by a reader of The Racing Biz through the website’s founder Frank Vespe.

XpressBet donated all revenue generated from Saturday’s wagers on Laurel, which totaled $6,280.

Another $10,349 has been raised on a GoFundMe site for Martinez, bringing the all-sources total to approximately $36,000.

Martinez, 21, has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. He is being treated in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Martinez and his wife, Yelitza, are expecting their first child this spring.