Going into my first chuckwagon weekend, I didn't know what to expect. I figured I had been to tons of rodeos and it would pretty much the same. Boy, was I wrong.
I've watched thoroughbred horse racing at Woodbine in Toronto but I've never seen the chuckwagons. It was amazing to see the four horses racing simultaneously and pulling their wagon and driver as a team, while two outriders sped through dust and past wagons to keep up with their driver.
That's not to say rodeos or thoroughbred horse racing are any less exciting or any less entertaining. It was a new sport entirely and I enjoyed every day of it.
The best part, I thought, was the story behind it and how chuckwagons has kept many of its origins and traditions alive.
Story has it, the sport of chuckwagon racing is derived from ranching days when neighbours would load up their wagons, chuck in their stoves and race to town.
Their incentive? The last ranch team to make it to the saloon bought the drinks.
Today, their incentives can be thousands and thousands of dollars and
the races may be a little more competitive but the heart of the tradition is still alive.
It was also great to cheer along with the community as our local drivers, Rae Croteau Jr. and Doug Irvine, raced around the track. Despite Irvine losing one of his dearest horses, both drivers gave it their all this weekend and did their community proud.
As for me, I was giddy with excitement on Thursday as I experienced my first taste of chuckwagons. So much so that I almost convinced a local councillor to find me a way on to Irvine's chuckwagon for a test run around the track on Friday before the races began. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.
By the time Sunday rolled around, I considered myself somewhat of an expert in chuckwagons, although I'm sure Irvine and Croteau might not agree with me. I had finally come to understand how everything works: why the stove is thrown, why the outriders stay further behind and get blinded by dust, and that the drivers actually know what they're doing as they drive in a figure eight and they're not just lost and confused.
So perhaps next year, if you're lucky, you might see a bright pink wagon being pulled by white horses. Don't be surprised if you see me behind the reins and some Nouvelle staff tagging along in the dust as my outriders.
