When the sun goes down in Calgary and the wagons start to roll.....

Wow, the last week just flew by. I had full intentions of posting the Stampede Chuckwagons a week ago, but didn't have the time to edit photos. Got 'r' done now though! The evening show always starts with the National Anthem and a military helicopter flying the Canadian flag over the grandstand, and it was cool that I could get the moon in the photo too.

One of my favourite wagon drivers is Colt Cosgrave, and since we were able to stand near the fence I was able to get some close up shots. Here is his outfit:

The heat he was in had a wagon with an equipment failure during the practice turn, it looked like the pole came loose and the right wheeler stepped over it:

But in true wagon family style a bunch of people stepped in to help and got the team unhooked...

and another driver who was running in a later heat (Jamie Laboucaine) lent him his wagon and theey hooked up the team and ran the heat.
Anytime you work with horses, there can be mishaps as we all know. The next day after I took this photo of Tim Haroldson, he was injured in a morning practice run when the wagon he was riding in (not driving) caught a ridge in the barrel turn and flipped over, throwing him out. He was in the hospital for the duration of the Stampede but will be allright. He had actually planned on retiring at this Stampede, and auctioning off all his horses and gear, which they did although Tim wasn't able to leave the hospital to attend. They raised nearly $300,000; a nice retirement sum but not quite the way he wanted to go out- so this is probably a pic of his very last chuckwagon run.

There were a lot of good races, some exciting finishes and I just love the thunder of all those horse feet and the rattle of the wagons!

Kelly Sutherland turning the barrels:

A good clean turn off the 2 barrel with the outriders in perfect position:

Speaking of outriders....

I do like a grey horse, and there were a couple of them used by the outriders, as well of plenty of them on the wagons.
4 across coming out of the infield!

Jason Glass's lead team:

All in all it was a pretty good finish to a wonderful day at Stampede spent with my lovely daughter. The next morning I headed out and spent an hour or so at Anchor D Ranch, where Ted and I got married. But I'll save that for the next post!