Chuckwagons: a part of Western heritage

Chuckwagons have deep roots in Western heritage, and so do we. In the late 1990s, the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede began running Chuckwagons around the half-mile of hell in Canada’s sunniest city.

Chuckwagon races are a family sport — often, many generations of men and women work the barns caring for horses and repairing tack.

Chuckwagons began at the Calgary Stampede in the early 1900s. Prior to that, stagecoach racing was the big event. The winner held the title, plus $25 and a Stetson hat.

After the Kluxton bell sounds, you can hear Les McIntyre shout out “and they’re off” from the announcer booth.

Chuckwagon racing tests the speed of the thoroughbred horses right off the barrels. Quick, agile lead horses and hard-charging wheel horses are essential for the fast, tight rotation around the first barrel. After completing the figure-eight turn, the dash for the inside rail position is on.

Well-designed race tracks, like the one in Medicine Hat allow three drivers to travel safely side by side all the way around the oval.

Back in the early days in Calgary, chuckwagon drivers were required to enter in at least one rodeo event — usually the event of popular choice was wild horse racing.

Chuckwagon pioneer Jack Morton was reported as “taming” the horse for a few hours, then selling it as “broke” to a buyer right on the spot.

Nowadays, chuckwagon drivers are dedicated solely to their sport, which still remains a family affair.

June 15-18 you are welcome to come out to the Stampede grounds and cheer on your favourite driver in one of the most exciting sports, which is part of our Western heritage.

*with reference to Hotcakes to High Stakes by Doug Nelson and the Stampede History Book by George Wilcox

We look forward to welcoming you to our 130th Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede July 26-29, 2017.

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