In 1st event after 6 horses died, Stampede chuckwagons return with new safety measures

Chuckwagon races are well underway at the "Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth," and organizers say they've implemented new measures intended to boost the safety of the event.

Calgary Stampede spokesperson Kristina Barnes said the most obvious change will be on the track in the number of wagons. 

In previous years, four wagons would compete in each heat — that's been decreased to three wagons this year.

"That's the one thing people will notice as they're watching from the stands and on television," Barnes said.

Custom-built delineator arms have also been added to the track to create a buffer between the wagons and the rails.

"In the past, people would've seen some pylons out on the track. So we've replaced those with these arms that slide out for the races," Barnes said.

"If there is contact between them and a wagon, they are made to swing back and break on the side of the rail. So not a trip hazard, but just to create that extra space on the track."

The Rangeland Derby chuckwagon races return to this year's Stampede after missing the past two years — in 2020, after the entire Stampede was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021, as organizers cited safety issues.

The chuckwagons have long been controversial among animal rights groups in Canada and the United States.

In 2019, the last time the derby was held, six horses died. That matched the second deadliest toll in the Stampede's history.

The return of the event led some animal rights groups to push back.

When Kevin Costner was announced as parade marshal for this year's Stampede, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, called on him to step away, citing the event's history that reportedly includes the deaths of more than 70 horses over the years. 

"Reducing a few of the dangerous aspects of the race is like cutting only one ear off a dog instead of two. It's better than nothing but not good enough," PETA said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. 

"The only way to stop horses from being hurt and from dying is to stop using them, and PETA joins every animal protection organization under the sun, and kind people across Canada, who want these reckless, barbaric races simply to end."