(CNN) -- On a blazing summer's day in 1961, a race horse called Puss n Boots decided enough was enough and took an impromptu dip in a nearby lake. The only problem? He was racing at the Fort Erie Race Track at the time. Jockey Ronnie Behrens was sent flying as the horse made a sharp detour for the scenic infield lake. Adding insult to injury, wilful Puss n Boots had been winning the race at the time. The fabled plunge has gained almost legendary status in Canada, with Fort Erie now holding an annual Puss n Boots Stakes -- ending with a traditional leap into the lake by the winning jockey and trainer.
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Half of Ontario's race tracks could close when government pulls funding scheme
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Feeling the pinch is 115-year-old Fort Erie Race Track in Ontario, Canada
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British racing starts finding new revenue sources to offset fall in betting money
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Future of horse racing may lie in marketing to family friendly audience
Even the owners of Fort Erie in @placeholder are now turning away from gambling in a bid to secure its future.