"and they’re off" and in 2007, the prize money goes up again, topping $1 Million dollars!!

The klaxon blares, and they’re off. A blur of canvas and poles fly across the infield as wagons, cowboys and thoroughbreds dash around the barrels and onto the racetrack. For 17,000 cheering fans time stands still, and in less than a minute the chuck wagons careen around the fourth and final turn. Everything begins to move in slow motion... the ground shudders under pounding hooves as the teams crowd closer together and stampede down the homestretch. Four wagons, 36 horses and 144 thundering hooves cross the finish line within fractions of a second.

how did we get here?

In 1923 the evening performance’s No. 10 Event was the 'Cowboy's Chuck-Wagon Race’. Purses and Prizes totaled $275.00. For the Official Canadian Championship title each outfit, consisting of 4 horses, wagon, driver and 4 helpers, were required to: "Cut a figure eight around barrels, out through backstretch into track, run around track back to campground, unhook team from wagon, stretch fly. No less than two stakes, and make fire. First smoke decides winner".