Chuckwagon driver banned from future Calgary Stampedes after latest horse death this year

A driver has been fined $10,000 and banned from competing in thisCalgary Stampede and future onesafter a horse died in Thursday's chuckwagon races.

It was the third horse death in this year's Rangeland Derby.

The fine followsan independent chuckwagon safety commission review of the incident involving driver ChadHarden,in Heat 7 of the race, where Evan Salmond's lead horse hit the guard rail and stumbledto the ground at Stampede Park.

"We don't think that Chad deliberately meant to do this," safety commission memberMike Whittle said at a news conference Friday. "We have determined that there was driver error involved in his decision-making. I guess I'd leave it at that."

Harden, ofMulhurst Bay, south of Edmonton, got his wagon inthe way of another driver, DannyRinguette, causing thethird wagon thatbelonged to Salmondto hitthe rail,Stampede management said in a statement late that night. Salmond's hometown isHudson Bay, Sask.

Video of the incident Thursday appears to show a chuckwagon team collidingwith Salmond'steam, causing the crash.

Graphic warning: This video of the chuckwagon race crash may be disturbing to some viewers.

Horse dies in Calgary Stampede chuckwagon race

5 years ago

Duration 1:36

Warning: This video contains scenes some may find difficult to watch. A driver was fined and disqualified from the rest of the Calgary Stampede after a horse died in a chuckwagon race Thursday.

A disqualification from the remainderof the Calgary Stampede means Hardenwon't be invited back to compete. He will, however, be permitted to apply for reinstatement as early as Sept. 1.

As to whether he would apply, Whittle couldn't say.

"He is processing what we have told him," the commissioner said.

Whittle noted this was the first such ban he could remember.

Zero tolerance policy for veteran driver

The Calgary Stampede has a zero tolerance policy for "preventable accidents and injuries," the organization has said, adding the safety of its animals are of the highest priority.

Salmond was not injured. His other three horses sustained minor injuries. He declined CBC's request for an interview.

Ringuette and Salmond were given average times to maintain their standings heading into Friday's races.

Harden is a third-generation, veteran chuckwagon racer and 2009 Rangeland Derby champion. At the 2012 Calgary Stampede, he lostthree horses when his wagon tumbled. At the time, he called their deaths devastating, and said the animals were part of his family.

'One of the best drivers out there'

Harden could not be reached Friday, as he had already left the rodeo grounds. His lifelong friend, fellow chuckwagon driver Corey Glenn, said he watched the video multiple times and saw the corner get crowded and the wagons drift in.

That caused what he viewed to be "just a chain reaction of misfortunate positioning," not a deliberate action that warranted aStampede ban.

"Calgary Stampede is so out there that they're going to these extremes to show that they want the drivers to be safe, they want the animals to be safe," Glenn said.

"I think Chad is one of the best drivers out there on this circuit. It's something he's put his whole life into. His dad did it, his granddad did it, the rest of his family has done it in the pony wagons."

He said Harden spent time promoting the sport to youth, as well, by bringing along a mascot to charity events.

Legendary chuckwagon champion Kelly "The King"Sutherland said Harden's mistake during Thursday night's raceislikely a "career-ending move."

After watching tape of the race, Sutherland said he believes Harden thought he was far enoughfrom his competitor when he was coming around the bend.

A$10,000 fine isa big hit for drivers,who already spend a fortune on maintaining livestock, he said.

"A lifetime [ban] is a long time. They give a lot of people that murder life [sentences], so I think there's always room for reprieve for a guy if it's all by record," Sutherland added.

'Isn't easy to see'

Stampede CEO Warren Connell said he was "deeply saddened" by the horse's death.

"I also want to say to the fans who were there last night, I know it isn't easy to see what you saw," he said. "I've been seeing it in the faces of our high-performance athletes, of our committed staff and our dedicated volunteers."

In the other twoincidents involvinghorses that died after competing in this year's Rangeland Derby:

• A horse was put down after suffering a broken leg. The horse onObrey Motowylo's wagon teamwas running in the second heat of races on Wednesday.
• Dylan, the horse belongingto 2012 Rangeland Derby winner Troy Dorchester, died after suffering a serious internal medical issue. The Stampede said at the time the death was not racing related. The 14-year-old gelding had passed a medical evaluation before the race.

Connell saidthe week has been "a difficult time" alreadydue to the death of thosetwo horses. He said avoidableinjuries are especially hard to deal with.

A few years ago, the Stampede changed the requirements for how athletes are invited to compete in chuckwagons, spokesperson Kristina Barnes said. Instead of simply going by standings,drivers are now invited also based partly on safety records.

"There's a lot of money at stake here at the Stampede and we want them to be focused on safety over winnings," she said. "And it's very important to note that they are good drivers, and that's why they're here."

The Stampede's roots can betraced to 1886, when theCalgaryand District Agricultural Society held its first fair.

The 2019 Stampede began July 5 and runs till Sunday.

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