It was strongly suggested by a friend that I stay for the Rangeland Derby after the rodeo. So I bought a ticket and here is what I saw. I was told it would be fast, it was. I was warned there could be crashes but I was spared and so were the all the teams racing. It seems simple with 3 teams racing but no it is all about how you start the race and where you hit the track. Most races the lead hitting the track ends up winning. Why? Well the turn around the barrel without hitting is where most lose time. The barrels are placed so each team gets the exact same distance to the track. Once on the track these horses are so fast, so even in speed that it is very hard to pass the team in the lead. It does happen. I was high up in the grandstands to see the whole track but I think I would have caught more of the drivers faces as they started the race and as they ended it if I was seated lower. So here goes, oh the grandstand was full! The grandstand you see is for the corporate people who pay a bit more than I did for a ticket. And here is the start of the race and the red team does not put the dummy stove in the back of the chuckwagon and that will cost the team a time penalty. The colours are always the same each race, the same number 1 is white 2 is red and 3 is yellow. The teams race 3 nights and start from a different barrel each night. As with all the events the top scores of the 3 events goes to the Sunday final for all the glory and money.

I don’t remember who won this close race.

That wraps up my day at the Calgary Stampede. I checked this off my bucket list and it was super. I recommend this to everyone. Yes it is all on TV but there is nothing like being there live. I know the Stampede has been going a long time but I was really impressed how smooth everything was run. It truly is the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.