Well Pool A is over now and so far I have had my best Stampede ever!!   I was second the first day, fourth the second day, third the third day and fouth again on the fourth day.  That made me the only barrel racer lucky enough to make money all four days.   My mare CJ worked pretty good there at Calgary, she was really running hard and not turning that great but thank god she fast.  It always takes them awhile to figure out the ground and how to handle it.

The weather during the four days were awesome, thats how all rodeos need to be.The last day was looking alittle bit ugly outside  but all of us barrel racers missed the rain storm by just a few minutes.  So everyone in the next Pool, Pool B, get  rodeo in the mud!  As much fun as that sounds….it’s not.  I’m so glad I don’t have run in it!!! So hopefully it dries up by the time I come back for the Short go on Sunday.

Until next time…..

Sierra Stoney

Well I showed up in Calgary yesterday after going to 10 rodeos in 2 provinces and 6 states in about 7 days and was ready for the chance to sit in one spot for more than a few hours! We got here just in time to watch the last performance of Saddle bronc rideing for pool A and I’m glad we did. The broncs were outstanding and the cowboys did a great job of matching them jump for jump. One of my traveling partners, Jeff Willert won the round with an 89 and sneaked into the Sunday short-go so he was pretty happy about that.

After a well needed good nights rest we checked into the office and found out what our draw for the day would be. I ended up with Calgary Stampede’s John Wayne. I got on him in Edmonton at the Canadian Finals last fall and knew just how good of a draw he was. I was 85.5 on him today and that was good enough for a second place. Cody Wright blew the rest of the pack away with an awesome 91 point ride on Kesler’s Cool Alley, the multi-time bucking horse of Canada and the World. It was a good day of bronc riding all the way around. Our pool has some great cowboys in it so it is going to be a challenge but I hope I am continued to be blessed with great draws the rest of the week and can secure a spot in the finals on Sunday. With the great weather and huge crowds it looks like its going to be a fun week!

Chet Johnson

Roger Moore has sorrel left leader that stands about sixteen hands tall and is as wide as he is tall but he is one of the most impatient left leaders i have ever seen.  All he wants to do is false start ever night he goes out there.  He does not want to stand at all, he just wants to go.  I am the lucky one who gets to hold him.  When Cash comes in to the barrels I go in and grab him with two hands.  On dry ground I can hold him but yesterday in the muddy infield I couldn’t do it he just chucked me around like a rag doll.  But if i had the chance to purchase i would give my truck and house for him.  Cash is the only leader i have seen that when he starts and none of the other horses start he will jerk the wagon himself.  If Roger and I can ever get him to stand and wait for the horn he will be one of the best horses on the ground.  I honestly believe that Roger has the chance to be a Calgary Stampede champion as long he can keep Cash.

Dustin Gorst

Well night 3 went pretty good all in all. A rainstorm blew in about heat 6 and washed the track pretty good so it was an advantage to be in the first 5 heats. One of the outfits that I ride for, Rae Croteau, was a victim of the slick track as his wagon kept sliding as he turned the top of 4 barrel, and he ended up hitting his bottom barrel. I guess those things happen. There were quite a few penalties last night, and the track was a little slippery for the last few heats. Tonight is a big night, especially for those driver that have dug a little bit of a hole. They have to start running now to get back into it.

Ed Melville

This sport is anything but consistent which is one of the reasons why I love it. However, it’s the inconsistencies which make it so frustrating. Just when I thought things were going smoothly, a couple of outriding penalties last night have thrown a wrench in things. It is always in the back of mind (and sometimes closer to the front) that as long as I run clean everything will turn out all right.  There is nothing more maddening than finishing a race and then being told that you have outrider penalties.  We changed a few horses around on the outriding team last night, so perhaps that had something to do with it or perhaps there are other issues that need to be addressed. It is hard to say. Day four is a new day and we must move on and hope that we can stay clean for the rest of the show.  

Yesterday back atthe barns there was a big trade of horses between Jason Glass and Jim Knight.  Jim Knight traded two outriding horses for one of Jason’s young classy pole horses.  Just like the NHL on trade dead line one team go for the run this year and one is building for the future.  Jason needed outriding horses now and Jimmy was building for the future.  Where Icame I worked as a scout for Jason to tell which of Jim outriding horses he wanted.  I told him which ones where the best ones all the way down to the weakest.  All I was hoping was that Jim didn’t trade my good one I ride for him.  But after all said and done it seemed like both sides where really happy and that’s all that really matters.  I hope by doing this they both become stronger outfits.

Dustin Gorst 

The track was a little muddy Friday but I was happy with my run. I felt quite confident I could out turn Jim Knight, Tim Haroldson and Sean Debolt and I told my outriders that they had better be ready because they were going to have to catch me because I was going to get to the front end. I didn’t make a good turn (Sloppy Barrel Turn). I was driving my son Ryans lead team and I did not drive as well as Ryan. I got to the front end going down the back stretch, I took their heads a bit then sent them down the lane and they flattened out at the wire. Saturday morning we had a track meeting and decided to maintain the track as we have had no complaints from drivers and felt we were seeing some of the best races that had been run in Calgary for years. My wife, daughter, son and Barn Crew are getting things done and a big helps so I can have piece of mind and focus on racing. Going into tonight’s race I drew the 4 barrel, I drove three of the same horses I drove Friday and borrowed a right leader from Brian Laboucane. My plan was to go high on my top barrel, go slow and drop in. I turned far better than I expected and was hung 4 wide then made a quick decision to pull and head to the rail behind Jason Glass. I tucked in behind and followed his stove rack for 6^th day money.

I had a good run tonight. My outfit didn’t start extremely hard but they ran when they hit the track. I sat in behind Wayne Knight who had a good turn on barrel one and waited until the third turn before I tried to take a run at him. My leader just nosed him at the wire by 2/100ths of a second. The last 2 years we had some horse problems heading into Calgary but this year Iam sitting pretty good. “Will” is starting to run and work harder than he has been. “Eddie” runs a route and likes the distance. “Donny” has been off since we raced in Wainwright. He didn’t start hard but ran well and should be ready to go Saturday. We are on barrel 2 again tomorrow (Saturday) so we will hook the same set of horses then give them the night off Sunday. Dallas Dyck, Curtis Meyers, David Bensmiller and my brother Mick will outride for me again for the next 4 nights but I will probably lose Dallas after the redraw when he goes to race in Lloydminster.

Happy Stampede Everyone!!! It is great to be be back for another year and as usual myself, my family, my barn crew and of course the horses are excited to be a part of the 2008 edition of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth! 

We arrived here this past Wed. and had a hectic couple of days getting our barn setup and organized and our tackrooms arranged. However, we now seem to have settled in and feel right at home.  The wagon also got a new coat of paint, so that it will look sharp even from the seventh floor of the grandstand.

Once again, my sponsor this year is ATB Financial. They have a number of events and functions planned, including daily barn tours and supper before the races for their clients, a visit to the Alberta Children’s Hospital and of course a few pancake breakfasts. Keep an eye out for Skippy, as he is out and about during the races and at many of the sponsor functions as well. I keep telling him to stay out of trouble, but he doesn’t always listen so well.

On night one (friday) we were in heat two. I decided to run the ”A Team” which is Fred and Jimmy on the lead and Coug’dit  and Zach on the wheel.  Unfortunately we got strung out three wide and ended up 25 on the day, which means we got to stay in heat two.

Last night (saturday) we went with the same team again. Although they sometimes don’t have the best start, they sure make up for it when they head down the home stretch.  Last night was a prime example.  Grant Profit, had a significant lead on us coming out of the fourth corner and we ended up catching him by a nose at the finish line to win the heat. Last night’s run was good enough to give us 8th on the day and bump us into 13 position. It is still very early on in the game, but I am happy so far and hope that the remaining eight days go just as well.

Chad Harden

The life of a outrider is pretty repetitive.  Get up do chores, kill time all day and then race at night.  If someone asks me how my night went i just tell them, “Round And a Round”.  To tell you the truth that is the key to being a good outrider is to get in a groove.  If some thing goes wrong a outrider has so be able to shrug it off and deal with whatever went wrong after the races because you carry one race into the next.  But not getting to cocky or full of ones self is just as important.

Congrats to Hugh Sinclair with the big run off the four barrel.  There nothing Better than to see four horses work that good.  Good job to outrider for  catching a loose horses last night in the ninth heat.  He made catching that horses pretty simple.   

Well tonight went o.k. I guess, all my drivers went penalty free, but not particularily fast.  The one thing i have learned about Calgary is it is a 10 day marathon.  You can’t win the Stampede early in the week, but you can lose it.  The key is to run clean and the big runs will come.  The track was a lot faster tonight, just ask Huey Sinclair who flew off the 4 barrel to take day money.  My drivers are still well within striking distance of the top 4, which is where we want to be after night 9.  I am not riding as many heats as I normally do this week due to a couple nagging sore spots, but I am starting to feel better and I am riding clean so I will probably take on a few more in the next re-draw.  The week is just starting to heat up,  it should be exciting.  Take care.

Well, its good to be back at the Stampede for another year.  This will be my 18th Stampede as a competitor and the butterflies never leave.  I have some strong contenders this week, most notably Rae Croteau, Luke Tournier, and Neal Walgenbach.  Hopefully we can get a little luck.  Last night went pretty good, the track was suprisingly good considering the downpour we got at about 6:30.  Buddy Bensmiller flew last night, and there are a lot of good outfits here.  I think this will be one of the most competitive Stampede’s in a while.  I guess time will tell.  Enjoy the week.

One Day of the greatest ten days of my life is over.  For outrider there is no bigger stage.  The excitement of the crowd, gives me chiles down my spine.  Yesterday morning I woke up at five thirty, just excited about the day.

My night of outriding went really good.  I went through the night penalty free, I was getting on good and every thing seemed to go pretty smooth.  Last night they redrew the heats and barrels, so all of the outriders where running around hoping to get hired for the next four nights.  It seemed like it was a bad draw for me because I lost Rick F., Neal W., and Mike V..  But I was lucky enough to pick up Sean D., Tim H. and Grant P..  So for the next four nights I will be riding all nine heats.

I would like to say good job to the race track crew for doing great work on the the race track.  The races where fair and exciting.     

Dustin Gorst

What would summer be without the big Mardi Gras we call the Calgary Stampede. 

Starting off in the parade this morning, I must have waved to 10,000 people (thanks for waving back).  I guess everyone else in Calgary was ready to start this show off right too.  The parade was great, just a nice overcast so it didn’t get too hot.  I saw loads of people funneling down to the grounds to hit the midway and everyone seemed to be loving the beautiful weather.  The rodeo sounded good, we never went over but I could here the crowd from the barns.  There was a beautiful BBQ back at the barns with my Friends of SAIT chuckwagon sponsors and then it hit.  Welcome to Calgary in July, a 15 minute flash flood.  Right before the races, must have been an inch and a half of rain.  Soon the wind blew and the sun came back out, craziest thing you ever seen.  That is unless you have spent the month of July in Calgary, then it was just another flash flood rainstorm during the Stampede.

 There is nothing more exciting that the first day of the Rangeland Derby.  Every driver, outrider and barn crew member  have dreamed  a hundred times over about winning this years derby.  Every race day and training day before this has been a build up of today.  But the most important thing to remember is that the stampede is not a stampede is not a sprint it is a marathon.  No matter what happens today there is still nine more days of racing. 

As for the Gorst barn, the horses are feeling good and the hopes are high.  We feel with a little luck that we can have a real good showing.  Dad ( Gary Gorst ) has two real nice lead teams and three bone headed pole horses that don’t know the meaning of whoa.  The outriding horses are a little soar but i think we should be alright.  The main thing for us is to stay focused, what ever happens just take it in stride and act nothing bothers us.

Tonight I will be riding all nine heats. I have worked hard all winter to be in top shape this year and i think i am ready for this years derby.  The season this far has gone really good, i have three show championships under my belt this year.  But there is not much i can do but do my best to help the driver and stay penalty free!

Good Luck to all the participants at this years Calgary Stampede.  

After months of preparation, thousands of dollars, a dozen hired hands, five separate race meets and one burning desire that only seems to get stronger as the days pass, here we go again.

The Calgary Stampede is just around the corner and we are coming to town.  It has always been an exciting time for me, this time of year.  Even when I was not driving or outriding, I loved coming into Calgary and turning into the Stampede grounds for the first time of the year.  There is nothing like the smell of the river and the sounds of the Stampede equipment moving everything around feverishly to get ready.  That is something I will never forget, and something I love to do every year.  Even more so now that I am racing, when I pull through that gate for the first time, I get excited and giddy.  I know it sounds a little less manly than a chuckwagon driver should be, but this is our Disneyland.  When we roll in it’s the start of something great for us, it’s the realization of one of our greatest dreams.

The dirt on the Stampede track has a distinct taste, the grounds have a specific noisy murmur, the river has an unmistakable continuous bubble that you can almost feel rather than hear and the Calgary Stampede has no equal.

I can’t wait to see you there.

Mark

www.sutherlandracing.ca