Chuckwagon racing involves four teams each consisting of a modified chuckwagon with four horses, three men, and a outriding horse. It’s really exciting to watch and full of high energy and danger. And both men and women compete in the teams.
Chuckwagon racing is an event at some rodeos mainly in Western Canada such as the Calgary Stampede. Chuckwagon races have been held since 1952 at Cheyenne Frontier Days – one of America’s biggest rodeos. There are a few professional chuckwagon racing circuits that operate in North America with the premiere circuit being run by the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) based in Calgary, Alberta.
Chuckwagon races involve 2 separate stages, the first element being the act of Breaking Camp, and the second element being the actual race.
In the early years, Breaking Camp involved a bit more equipment than current races utilize, and contestants literally ‘broke up’ their camp-gear (stoves, tent, tentpoles, etc), tossed it in the wagon, then and scrambled headlong into element 2 – the race!
Today, Breaking Camp consists of standardized equipment that is much safer for horses and riders to work with. A weight box called a stove (instead of a real cookstove piece) is used, along with tent flaps and tent poles.
From the Arkansas Chuckwagon Racing Association website:
“A chuckwagon team is made up of three members – the driver, cook, and the outrider. At the beginning of a race the driver is the only one in the wagon. The cook and outrider are both standing behind the wagon, the cook holding a “bedroll” and the outrider holding a “stove.” Before the starting gun goes off you hear the official starter saying “cooks load your wagon!” and the cooks are to throw their bedroll in the wagon and hurry to sit beside the driver. During the race a cook helps to keep an eye on the track and warn the driver of any dangers. After the gun sounds, the outrider will throw their stove in the wagon and mount their horse (though this isn’t always an easy task!) The wagon takes off at the gun and both teams are to round a barrel before starting down the track. The outrider must also round their respective barrel and pass their team before it crosses the finish line. If the outrider fails to “catch” his/her team, the team is given a “no time.”
You can get more information at the website for the World Professional Chuckwagon Association. Wayne Overacke is the current President. Their slogan “Half Mile of Hell” pretty well describes the event.
and Professional Chuckwagon Racing which is HERE. Chris Kayser is the President and CEO.
If you have problems seeing the video below click HERE.
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From Don McCarthy:
I go to Alberta quite a bit and I had the good fortune of meeting Iris and Jason Glass of the Glass family that has been chuck wagon racing since 1922. See http://www.halfmileofhell.com/news_detail.aspx?ID=128. I helped Jason with his practice runs at High River a few years ago. I got to know Iris glass, the mother of chuck wagon racing. She is 86 years old.
After helping Jason he took me on a practice run and it is one of my life’s highlights. I sat with his mother at the High River races and fell in love with it. Alberta is the place to go if you like chuck wagon racing.