Howdy Chuckwagon Friends!
The count down is on. Only 2 more days of racing and then we’re headed home. “How Sweet it is!” As my husband often says. It’s been a good ride here in Calgary Alberta. Rick decided to hook an outfit for a practice run this morning at 7 AM. Our daughter Kaylee and husband Chris wanted to be a part of the action, so I offered to stay up in the camper with baby Ryker while he slept. So in turn, I got to have a sleep in morning and it lasted until 9:30 AM! Oh my Gosh that was so good. When Ryker awoke we headed down to the barn to find all the chores complete and breakfast done and cleaned up.
With the Stampede coming to a close, that means there is lots of packing to do. Our one tack room acts as a kitchen, clothes closet, and storage unit all in one. I decided to pack some of our belongings up to the camper that we did not need down there anymore. I got busy and did what I could. Back at the camper, I unloaded it all. Dishes had to be washed, bags put away, and the fridge cleaned out. Once that was all done, I got busy and made 2 pans of Christmas Morning Wifesaver for breakfast tomorrow morning.
Candice
Duncan
When you have horses, there are always legs to attend to. Our “Team 23” has looked after each and every one of our equine animals this week with their utmost care and attention. We couldn’t ask for anything better from them all.
![IMG_0216[1]](https://i0.wp.com/travelintrailer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/img_02161.jpg?resize=676%2C901&ssl=1)
Holding the Leaders
Only a Breath Away
For safety precautions, the Stampede has random drug testing. The drivers and outriders have to blow into the mechanism for detection of alcohol usage. A breathalizer test. I’m not sure how many times Rick has had to blow, but I do know it’s been a waste of money, as Rick hasn’t drank any liquor for 34 years. None the less, they still have to test him.
A Helping Hand
Coming into the infield for a practice, after the barrel turn, often the drivers get their helpers to lend a hand at pulling on the lines to slow the horses down. The four thoroughbreds can be hard to hold as they know the race is approaching very fast and it is soon time to run fast. Once in a while, after completing the barrel turn, the horses can get away on a driver and think it is time to race. They pull harder and harder where the driver can not stop them and they have what we call, a run away. Eventually they get them stopped and head back to the barn with an unfortunate no time.
The Top of 1
Tonight’s hook was Spirit on the Left Lead, Ranger on the Right. Sporty on the Left Wheel and Bacardi on the Right. With having a new barrel draw, it meant we had to change-up our outriders. Chance Flad was available to hold the leaders with Ed and a young rookie named Ethan Motowylo threw the stove using Andy.
Coming Down the Home Stretch
Rick had a great turn around the one barrel, yet when he came onto the track, his Chuckwagon was just a little wide on the chalk line. The judges assessed us with a 1 second penalty. We ended up 23rd on the day.
Driver in Training
On the way back to the barns, Duncan gets a few lessons from Rick on how to drive. He’s been enjoying the experience as he has nothing like this back in Australia, his home country.
One Happy Group
After the races, our sponsors from Western Star had come by to visit us and the horses back at the barns. For some of them, it was their first ever Chuckwagon race. They loved it. For them it was great to get up front and personal with the horses.
Tomorrow evening will be a very exciting time for the four finalists that will be vying for the $100,000.00 prize. Congratulations to all the finalists who consist of Logan Gorst, Kurt Bensmiller, Obrey Motowylo, and Chanse Vigen. May the fastest wagon win!
Until Tomorrow
From the Travelin Trailer
Sue, with Rick and “Team 23”
Sue
P.S. Failure keeps you humble. Success keeps you glowing. But only Faith and Determination keeps you going.
Great photos thanks Sue.
Bugger about being over the chalk line.
I have a question how many horses do you have to bring to the stampede? Do you also supply the out riding horses? Thank you
Hi sue, I have really enjoyed following your blog which was forwarded to me by a friend. I have joined today.
I have learned so much about chuck wagon racing this past few years and all the work that goes into that lifestyle and taking such good care of the horses and each other. Family for sure!
It was a pleasure to meet you and Rich at the ponoka Rodeo. Thank you so much for talking the time to chat and take pictures.
I was cheering for you at the Calgary stampede and looked forward to each race.
All the very best in the future .
Cheering for you all! Go for it!
Hello Murial
Thanks for following along. It’s a pleasure to share what we do with others.
Cheers to you
Sue
Wx
I caught Day 9 on CBC in Sask and as I was grinning to see the mid race friendly chit chat An all time favorite song came to mind. These lyrics may vary slightly from the version u know, shamelessly plagiarized from
Writer Carl Davis. Thanks for the beloved tune Carl and later to Alberta singer Paul Brandt and all of Team 23. Kari
Yeah, breaker one nine
This here’s Rick Fraser
You got a copy on me Pig Pen, c’mon
Uh, yeah, Ten-Four Pig Pen, fer sure, fer sure
By golly it’s clean clear to Stampede Park, c’mon
Yeah, its a big Ten-Four there Pig Pen
Yeah, we definitely got the front door, good buddy
Mercy sakes alive, looks like we’ve got us a convoy
It was the heat of the afternoon
On the fifteenth of July
And a Kenworth pullin’ logs
Cab over Pete with a refer on
And a Jimmy haulin’ hogs
We was headin’ for bear
On Olympic Way
‘Bout a half mile out of Stampede Park
I says, Pig Pen this here’s Rick Fraser
And I’m about to put the hammer down
‘Cause we got a little ‘ole convoy
Racin’ through the Rangeland
Yeah, we got a little ‘ole convoy
Ain’t she a beautiful sight
C’mon and join our Convoy
Ain’t nothin’ gonna get in our way
We gonna roll this wagon convoy
‘Cross the finish line
Convoy
Convoy
Yeah, breaker Pig Pen this here’s Rick
And uh, you wanna back off them hogs
Uh, ten-four ’bout five mile or so
Ten-Roger them hogs is gettin’ intense up here
By the time we got into Stampede Park
We had four wagons and 8 outriders in all
But they’s a finish wire up on the clover leaf
And them fans was wall to wall
Yeah, them fans as thick as bugs on a bumper
They even had Ian McIntyre in the air
I says, callin’ all wagons
This heres Rick
We about to go a huntin’ bear
‘Cause we got a little ‘ole convoy
Racin’ round the Rangeland
Yeah, we got a great big convoy
Ain’t she a beautiful sight
C’mon and join our Convoy
Ain’t nothin’ gonna get in our way
We gonna roll this wagon convoy
‘Cross the finish line
Convoy
Convoy
Uh, you wanna give me a ten-nine on that Pig Pen
Uh, negatory Pig Pen you’re still too close
Yeah, them hogs is startin’ to close up my sinuses
Mercy sakes, you’d better back off another ten
Well, we rolled up to corner three
Like a rocket sled on rails
We tore up all of our swindel sheets
And left ’em settin’ on the scales
By the time we hit that Stampede Park
Them bears was a gettin’ smart
They’d brought up some reinforcements
driving legend Tom Glass, and chuckwagon historian Billy Melville
There’s armored cars and tanks and jeeps
And rigs of every size
Yeah, them chicken coops was full of bears
And camera’s filled the skies
Well, we shot the line
We went for broke
With a 115 thousand screamin’ fans
And eleven long haired Friends of Jesus
In a Chartreus microwagon
Yeah, Rick Fraser ’tis Sod Buster
C’mon there
Yeah, Ten-Four Sod Buster
Listen, you wanna put that microwagon
In behind that suicide jockey
Yeah, he’s haulin’ dynamite
And he needs all the help he can get
Well, we laid a strip for the finish line
Prepared to cross the line
I could see the bridge was lined with bears
But I didn’t have a doggone dime
I says, Pig Pen this here’s Rick Fraser
We just ain’t a gonna pay no toll
So we crashed the gate doin’ 98
I says let them wagons roll
Ten-Four
‘Cause we got a mighty convoy Racin’ round the Rangeland
Yeah, we got a mighty convoy
Ain’t she a beautiful sight
C’mon and join our Convoy
Ain’t nothin’ gonna get in our way
We gonna roll this wagon convoy
‘Cross the Finish line
Convoy
Convoy
Ah, Ten-Four
Pig Pen what’s you’re Twenty
Corner Four
Well, they oughtta know what to do
With them hogs out there, fer sure
Well, mercy sakes good buddy
We gonna pack on outta here
So keep the mud off yer goggles
And the outriders on yer…tail
We’ll catch you at the next one
This here’s Team 23 on the side
We gone
Bye, bye
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wczPet0Yf9E
Very Creative!!!
Thanks for Sharing
Cheers
Sue