Buddy Bensmiller (L) races Layne MacGillivray (R) in the first heat of the Rangeland Derby Chuckwagon races during the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede Rodeo in Calgary, Alberta, July 13, 2012.Todd Korol
Rain fell on the last day of the Calgary Stampede, but it couldn't dampen the party atmosphere. A streak of hot weather and months of buildup for this year's centennial led to record crowds, cementing the event's iconic status in Canada.
But with all the success also came tragedy – three chuckwagon horses died after a crash on the seventh day. The following day, as animal rights activists renewed calls to shut down the popular event, spectators applauded and tipped their cowboy hats in support of the chuckwagon team's owner and driver.
Chuckwagon races are a key part of Stampede's success. The first races took place in 1923, and now thousands pack into the grandstand each evening to watch – and place bets – on the chucks. But the races are also flashpoints of controversy: More than 50 chuckwagon horses have died since 1986 and protesters are becoming more vocal about getting the sport removed. Can a festival that's all about horses and rodeo events drop chuckwagon races and still draw crowds?
Max Foran thinks so. The Stampede historian and professor at the University of Calgary believes the Stampede would still thrive should animal protesters get their way and have the sport removed from the festival.
"I think the Stampede could survive without chuckwagons," he said. "To what degree do people want to stand around and watch animals get killed? People don't like that. They don't come to the Stampede to see that."
For Mr. Foran, the city's annual traditions of pancakes breakfasts, political pep rallies, packed pubs and party tents and festive corporate parties are part of the reason why ditching the chuckwagons wouldn't knock the wind out of Stampede.
"You'll always have Stampede breakfasts. You'll always have your rituals," he said. "What Stampede may want to do is expand its off-site activities and increase its festival environment."
There's a lot at stake, however. The rodeo and chuckwagon events are huge draws and important money makers – Canada's corporate elite paid a total of more than $8-million this year to sit on the fancy seats during the rodeo and chuckwagon races.
In cities across Canada, many exhibitions and fairs have seen declining numbers over the past few decades. The Stampede broke attendence records by Saturday, with 1.29 million visitors, with one more day to go. What makes the Stampede different is the rodeo and chucks. Eliminate the races and it turns into just another bland exhibition.
"Why would you?" asked 16-year old Levi Somero from New Hampshire, who attended the Stampede with his family.
"It's like horses without the cowboys."
Doug Fraser, a spokesman for the Stampede, declined to comment on what it may do with the chucks. The Stampede has long rejected calls to do away with the event, even though cowboys – a driver and an outrider – have been killed in previous years. The Stampede, however, has brought in new rules in attempts to make races safer.
The accident Thursday occurred after one of Chad Harden's four-horse chuckwagon team died when a weak blood vessel in its heart burst, known as a ruptured aortic aneurysm. Two more horses had to be euthanized.
For veteran chuckwagon driver Kelly Sutherland, occasional accidents are an unfortunate part of racing. You can bring in stringent rules, but you can't eliminate tragedies altogether.
"It's not the first incident in chuckwagon racing and it won't be the last," he said. "We're in a sport, just like it won't be the last jumping horse that dies. It just won't."