Indigenous Relay Races to make Calgary Stampede debut this summer

Kal Jackson has been thinking about this most of his life.

"I have been riding the horse ever since I was three years old. That's all I have ever wanted to do was race on a horse."

He's talking about the Indigenous Relay Races, a first for the Calgary Stampede. It's a demonstration sport running three nights starting July 11 at this year's event.

• World Indigenous Games comes to Alberta this summer

While this is technically Jackson's first year competing, he had a race last year just to get the feel of it.

He says the calibre of horse is the first piece.

"They are fast, for this race you need thoroughbreds to win if you want to win," Jackson told CBC News.

The event involves teams of four members with three horses, organizer Tyrone Potts explained.

"The jockey, they go from a standing start, he makes one lap around the track riding bareback. He does the switch onto another horse, another lap around the track," Potts said.

"When he does the exchange again, [that's] his last horse. There are four teams at once, it happens quick."

It's three times around the track on three different horses.

Potts says the sport, sometimes called Indian Relay Races, has done well in other parts of Canada and the U.S.

"I think it's been going on for a lot of years but it has been unnoticed. It's never got the recognition it deserves," he said.

"But to come to Calgary to the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth is amazing for both First Nations and for the Calgary Stampede. I am so excited to see it come to Calgary."

'In my blood'

Aaron Good Rider is with team Lone Wolf. While he started riding in 2010, the sport has been in his family a lot longer.

"My dad was a relay racer, it's been in my blood for a long time," Good Rider said.

"I just wanted to continue in the sport and carry on his family name."

Good Rider says he's been urging his band members at Piikani Nation to get involved for years.

"I approached the other reserves too and said, 'would you guys come and support us?' I did a lot of footwork," he said.

"It was kind of like a dream come true for me from all those years of pushing it."

'I am hungry for that spotlight'

For Jackson, it's about making his family proud.

"Riding in the Stampede has always been a dream of mine and it has come true. I get to show my family what I can do on a horse and they are going to be smiling at me," he said.

"I don't want to be good, I want to be great. It's a long way to the top and I am going to get there. I am hungry for that spotlight and being in first. These horses can do it and I know I can do it now."

• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Councillors give OK to full Green Line LRT alignment
• MORE ALBERTA NEWS |Wannabe leader of United Conservative Party says he's tired of Conservatives not fighting for social issues