Latest news with #RangelandDerby
Calgary Herald
25-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Consistency pays off as Rae Croteau Jr. pushes toward his first world chuckwagon racing title
Rae Croteau Jr. drives to the finish in Heat 8 of the Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede on July 12, 2025. Photo by Mike Drew / Postmedia Rae Croteau Jr. has been keeping his barrels upright all season. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Calgary Herald ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors That's a winning strategy in chuckwagon racing. But 'leaving them standing' is not so great on the alley. Croteau took advantage of a rare break in the World Professional Chuckwagon Association schedule to take his family and barn crew bowling in Olds, Alta. The champion had yet to be crowned, but the 43-year-old driver could tell who was going to be lifting the five-pin hardware. 'Not me,' Croteau said with a laugh. 'My oldest daughter (Cora Lynn) likes it quite a bit, which was kind of a surprise to me. Your weekday lunchtime roundup of curated links, news highlights, analysis and features. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again 'The rest of us are eating hotdogs, wingin' balls and having fun.' At the end of a largely successful Calgary Stampede, Croteau put the horses out in pasture for some rest and relaxation at his daughter's place just outside of Sundre, Alta. And then the whole crew settled down for a 10-day breather before the wagons roll into High River for the Battle of the Foothills, which runs Thursday through Sunday. Croteau is anxious to get back on the track. 'With Ponoka and Calgary, there were 16 races over 18 nights,' he says. 'It's funny how your body becomes accustomed to the grind and adrenaline and competition. 'You think 'I'm looking forward to a break for me and the crew and the horses.' But then we got settled (by Sundre) and two three days go by and we're all bored. 'You miss the racing and the competition, and the horses are feeling pretty good, running around, bucking and playing. So you know it's on their minds as well.' There's another reason the Rapid View, Sask. reinsman is eager to get back to work. He's sitting No. 1 in the WPCA standings with as deep a stable of horses as he's had in years. 'It's been steady,' Croteau said. 'We've been rotating through the herd. We've been getting new horses into races and just trying to stay competitive. 'It's just consistency. Maybe over the past few years, we didn't have the best outfits, but maybe you make the least (amount of) errors. We also had some new horses that have jumped in and made a difference. 'That's the biggest thing over the past two years. Making the least errors, and then breaking new horses and getting them to work.' Costly outriding penalties kept Croteau out of the Ponoka Stampede's Tommy Dorchester Dash For Cash, and then again at last week's Rangeland Derby Dash For Cash, where he was forced to settle for fourth, just 2.16 seconds out of the third and final qualifying spot.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Best feeling in the world': Chanse Vigen captures first Rangeland Derby title with 'rockstar' drive
'The Rangeland Derby Rockstar' finally lived up to his nickname. Chanse Vigen did what he wasn't able to do last year and outraced Jason Glass across the finish line in the championship final heat of the 2025 Rangeland Derby presented by Play Alberta. 'I just feel like I've been working towards this my whole life,' said Vigen, who's originally from Grande Prairie, Alta., but now lives in Calgary with his wife Brie. 'I just feel so relieved.' And how did it feel to add a bit more punch to the nickname that track announcer Les McIntyre gave him? 'I wasn't trying to rock anything,' said Vigen in regards to winning chuckwagon's ultimate prize in his fourth trip to the final heat. 'I just wanted to win the race and I've never wanted something so bad. It's the best feeling in the world. There's a lot of emotion running through me right now. It's the best night of my life.' After finishing third one year ago, Vigen was able to execute a perfect figure-eight turn around the barrels in his wagon to secure his spot along the rail before racing around the Stampede Park track in 1:13.44 to beat Glass — the defending champion — and his Birchcliff Energy outfit across the line by 1.27 seconds. In his first time competing in the Rangeland Derby final, Jamie Laboucane (Panorama Advisory Group) hit a barrel and wound up in third spot. 'You're never comfortable when you're hooked (with) Jason Glass and Jamie Laboucane,' said Vigen, who finished third in last year's final. 'They're the two fiercest competitors out there, probably not to take anything away from anybody. They're just so tough and consistent and loaded with horsepower, and it was a tough race. I don't know if there was a favourite to win the race tonight. Anybody could have won that race, and our horses just responded and answered the bell.' Racing down the final stretch and hearing the roar of crowd at GMC Stadium was something Vigen will never forget. 'I saw my whole life flash before my eyes,' said Vigen, who looked back to make sure his outriders Rory Gervais and Ethan Motowylo were behind him, which they were. 'I knew we were going to win.' Outrider Trey MacGillivray, who also worked with the team throughout the 10-day show, also accompanied Vigen to the stage to be honoured for his efforts. Although he wasn't able to duplicate the success he had when he won his first Rangeland Derby title, Logan Gorst (International Petroleum Group) still won the Richard Cosgrave Memorial and Safety Award and a $30,000 bonus for finishing with the fastest cumulative time through 10 nights among drivers who didn't take a penalty. Besides the $80,000 payout doled out in the final heat, an additional $78,200 was paid out to the other drivers on Sunday. Aboard his STARS/De Havilland Aircraft of Canada rig, Wade Salmond finished his Stampede off strong with the fastest time of the night. Salmond recorded with a time of 1:13.18, the fastest of the first eight heats, to take home $6,000. Rory Gervais won the Atco Outrider Award and a cheque for $2,000. Ethan Motowylo finished second, while his brother Hayden Motowylo placed third. Both won $1,000 … D.J. King won the Orville Strandquist Memorial rookie driver award and received an additional payday of $3,000 … Vigen, Laboucane and Glass all had horses win Equine Athlete of Excellence Awards. Vigen's right leader Junior and Laboucane's left leader 3Score were honoured for their excellence as was Glass's outriding horse. Chad Fike's left wheeler Bro and Obrey Motowylo's right wheeler Bugsy were also given awards as was Darcy Flad's outriding horse Wade.
Calgary Herald
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
'Best feeling in the world': Chanse Vigen captures first Rangeland Derby title with 'rockstar' drive
Article content 'The Rangeland Derby Rockstar' finally lived up to his nickname. Article content Chanse Vigen did what he wasn't able to do last year and outraced Jason Glass across the finish line in the championship final heat of the 2025 Rangeland Derby presented by Play Alberta. Article content 'I just feel like I've been working towards this my whole life,' said Vigen, who's originally from Grande Prairie, Alta., but now lives in Calgary with his wife Brie. 'I just feel so relieved.' Article content Article content 'I wasn't trying to rock anything,' said Vigen in regards to winning chuckwagon's ultimate prize in his fourth trip to the final heat. 'I just wanted to win the race and I've never wanted something so bad. It's the best feeling in the world. There's a lot of emotion running through me right now. It's the best night of my life.' Article content After finishing third one year ago, Vigen was able to execute a perfect figure-eight turn around the barrels in his wagon to secure his spot along the rail before racing around the Stampede Park track in 1:13.44 to beat Glass — the defending champion — and his Birchcliff Energy outfit across the line by 1.27 seconds. Article content In his first time competing in the Rangeland Derby final, Jamie Laboucane (Panorama Advisory Group) hit a barrel and wound up in third spot. Article content Article content 'You're never comfortable when you're hooked (with) Jason Glass and Jamie Laboucane,' said Vigen, who finished third in last year's final. 'They're the two fiercest competitors out there, probably not to take anything away from anybody. They're just so tough and consistent and loaded with horsepower, and it was a tough race. I don't know if there was a favourite to win the race tonight. Anybody could have won that race, and our horses just responded and answered the bell.' Article content Racing down the final stretch and hearing the roar of crowd at GMC Stadium was something Vigen will never forget. Article content 'I saw my whole life flash before my eyes,' said Vigen, who looked back to make sure his outriders Rory Gervais and Ethan Motowylo were behind him, which they were. 'I knew we were going to win.' Article content Outrider Trey MacGillivray, who also worked with the team throughout the 10-day show, also accompanied Vigen to the stage to be honoured for his efforts.
CTV News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Horse euthanized following Saturday chuckwagon races at Calgary Stampede
A horse from Chad Fike's team was euthanized Saturday night following the eighth heat of the 2025 Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stampede. An injured horse was euthanized following the chuckwagon races Saturday night at the Calgary Stampede. Stampede CEO Joel Cowley confirmed the incident in a Sunday press conference. 'Last night, there was an unfortunate incident,' Cowley said. 'Chad Fike, in the eighth heat of the Rangeland Derby, had a right wheel horse -a horse named Rider - suffer a fracture to his left front cannon bone. 'Upon consulting with the veterinarian on the track, it was decided that the most humane thing to do would be to euthanize that animal. 'Our condolences go out to the Fike family for their loss.' Fike pulled up during the eighth heat and received no time. The race was shown on tape delay on television and there was no mention of the incident on the broadcast apart from mentioning that Fike didn't finish. 'Prevent more suffering and deaths': VHS Sunday morning, Vancouver Humane Society campaign director Emily Pickett issued a statement, calling for the rodeo and chuckwagon races 'to be removed from the Stampede program to prevent more suffering and deaths.' Animal cruelty protest, Calgary, July 6, 2025 Animal rights activists protested rodeo and chuckwagon events at the Calgary Stampede Sunday afternoon. (Jordany Kanygin, CTV Calgary) 'The Stampede has built a careful narrative claiming organizers care about animal welfare, but animals die almost every single year. It's simply not worth the risk. If they truly cared, the so-called Half-Mile of Hell would be a thing of the past,' Pickett added. Sunday afternoon, Animal Justice issued a release calling for the Calgary Humane Society, which is responsible for enforcing Alberta's animal protection laws within the city, to investigate the incident and 'hold those responsible for causing distress, injury, and suffering accountable.' 'It is 2025, but these completely preventable killings continue to happen,' said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director at Animal Justice. 'It's absurd that Stampede organizers permit this brutal spectacle to continue where horses are doomed to die nearly every year.' Saturday night's horse death was the first one of the 2025 Stampede. This is a developing story that will be updated throughout the day. With files from CTV's Jordan Kanygin
CTV News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Ray Croteau Jr. dominates Saturday night at Rangeland Derby but falls short in bid to land in Sunday championship heat
Ray Croteau Jr. won Day 10 at the 2025 Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Saturday night, edging out defending champion Jason Glass. Ray Croteau Jr. won the night Saturday at the Rangeland Derby but he lost the aggregate. Croteau Jr. turned in a sterling time of 1:11.84 Saturday to take the day money in the chuckwagon races, defeating defending champ Jason Glass by six one-hundredths of a second. Logan Gorst finished third, followed by Laboucane and Chanse Vigen, who tied Evan Salmond for fifth. However, when all was said and done, Glass claimed third place in the aggregate, landing a spot in Sunday's championship final heat. Jason Glass, July 10, 2025 Defending Rangeland Derby champ Jason Glass moved into third place overall after winning the day money Thursday night at the Calgary Stampede. (Photo: WPCA/ShellieScott) There, he will compete against Laboucane and Vigen for the title of Rangeland Derby champ, along with $50,000 and a GMC truck. Vigen and Laboucane both built significant leads throughout the week as they dominated the top two spots. Vigen's nine-day aggregate time was 10:54.33. Laboucane finished with an aggregate time of 10:55.81, while Glass finished 10:59.07. Croteau Jr. won $6,000 for finishing with the top time Saturday night, landing him in fourth place in the aggregate, 2.16 seconds behind Glass. Obrey Molowylo finished fifth overall, 2.46 seconds back. The finals start at 7:15 p.m. Sunday night.
