Chuckwagon driver calls out Calgary Stampede over new invitational format
Rae Croteau Jr. says the sport's professional associations should play bigger role
One of the biggest names in chuckwagon racing says the Calgary Stampede is putting the future of his sport in jeopardy.
Rae Croteau Jr., who retired this month, says recent changes made by the Stampede are driving competitors away and making it hard for them to survive financially.
Stampede officials now pick and choose who they want to compete in the Rangeland Derby on an invitation-only basis, rather than looking at standings from the sport's two professional associations.
The chair of the Stampede's chuckwagon committee, Mike Piper, said earlier this month that the change will allow officials to select only the safest drivers.
But Croteau says the new system creates financial uncertainty for drivers, who don't know if they will get a chance to compete in the sport's biggest event.
And with competitors already struggling because of a smaller pool of sponsorship money available in Alberta's sluggish economy, Croteau says he felt it was time to speak out.
"It's tough for the wagon drivers to continue to do the sport, and that's just the bare bones of it," he said.
"With the economy being weaker right now, it's brought all this to a head."
Croteau says the Stampede is failing to recognize that the chuckwagon associations are equally concerned about safety and would only send their best drivers to the sports marquee event.
He says the Stampede has come to have too much control over the sport of chuckwagon racing.
"I'm not trying to be rude, I appreciate what they do, they put on a great show, but they dictate to us more what we're allowed to do, when and where, versus working together as a group."
'Entitled to his opinion'
A Calgary Stampede spokesperson says enhancements to the program continue and the invitationalformat is similar to what is used for the rodeo.
"We've worked with both chuckwagon associations and with industry experts on improvementsincluding the invitational formatand we are pleased with how it's going,"Kristina Barnes said.
"We saw very safe driving from the competitors this year, with significantly lower penalties than last year."
Barnes saidCroteauis entitled to his option but "We're not going to debate our format in the media.Rae made the decision to retire well before Stampede and we wish him all the best with his future endeavors," she said in an emailto CBC News.
No raises in 11 years
"Not to point the finger, but the Calgary Stampede hasn't given the chuckwagon racers, their families, and their lifestyles a raise in 11 years," Croteau said.
"But they still continue to want to take our 20 per cent commission to help run their show," he said, referring to the share the Stampede takes from the annual tarp auction.
Other changes introduced this year by the Stampede include new wagon inspections that test the welds of the vehicles, arebuiltinner rail of the track to prevent erosion during rainstormsand "minor tweaks" to the barrel placements to better align drivers as they come out of the opening figure-eightturns and reduce the chance of collisions.
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