Chanse Vigen wasn’t the only one smiling when he accepted a $30,500 cheque for winning the Battle of the Foothills chuckwagon races at the High River Agricultural Society Grounds last week.
You can be guaranteed the chuckwagon drivers, the High River Ag Society and the majority of the Foothills community were smiling as well as the races went off pretty much without a hitch, and importantly the grandstands were full.
It was a gutsy move by the ag society as they took on an extra weekend — and the extra costs — of races when the dates became available because the Rangeland Derby at the Calgary Stamped was cancelled.
It meant some quick work and teamwork by not only the society but the Foothills community as well.
It was a show of confidence by the business community as it rallied to support the endeavour, the first set of races from the World Professional Chuckwagon Association in the southern Alberta area since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fortunately, there were no major hiccups, other than one night of racing being postponed from a Sunday night to a Monday night due to smoke.
A wise decision to protect horses and spectators.
And there were plenty of spectators as thousands cheered on the drivers as patrons put away 18-months of frustration and gathered in what was one of the largest attended sporting event in Foothills County area in years.
It was also a way to say, :Hey Calgary Stampede, you blew it, we want wagons."
Fortunately, the indications are the wagons will be back in Calgary for next year. The drivers need the big payday.
Regardless, the ag society has indicated it will once again roll the dice and go for two consecutive weekends in High River (not during the Stampede).
But for 2021, when it came to the top show in wagons, it was High River and not the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
