The Soldotna Rodeo saw some of the biggest crowds in its history over the weekend; that’s according to the Soldotna Equestrian Association’s Joe Dilley who said it also had more injuries than usual.
Dilley: “One of our bull riders on Friday got stepped on by a bull and broke his leg, that was Friday night. Saturday, one of our judges was reaching for the reigns and the horse just kept going and he fell out of the saddle and broke his leg, almost in the identical same spot. And then Sunday, one of our junior bull riders, she’s a young lady and she fractured her elbow and messed up her shoulder a little bit, she got hung up on a bull.”
Dilley said rodeo riders understand injuries are a part of the sport.
The riders who broke their legs have undergone surgeries but Dilley said he didn’t believe the junior bull rider would need surgery on her arm.
Dilley said they also had a new event which drew in a sizable crowd.
Dilley: “It was called Unfinished Business. All the older bull riders who had retired because it’s definitely a young man’s sport, came out of retirement, for one last go.”
Saturday’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink event also saw a large turnout and gave 25% of the proceeds to Breast Cancer Awareness.
