Calgary Stampede Chuck Wagon races - The greatest outdoor show on earth

Every July in Western Canada there is outdoor festival that attracts ten of thousand people nicknamed "The greatest outdoor show on earth".  The official name for this outrageous festival is "The Calgary Stampede" and it takes place for ten days at the beginning of every July.  This upcoming year will be the 98th annual Calgary Stampede and it runs from July 9th -19th, 2010. While at the Calgary Stampede there are many events that take place that range from rodeo's to western dancing but the real attraction and arguably the most famous event is the

The Calgary Stampede chuck wagon races are a heart pounding and exhilarating experience. This event has been nicknamed the "the half mile of hell" because of how dangerous and challenging it can be. The event will run for the entire 10 days of the Stampede with a grand finale where riders will have a chance to win a large purse of at least $100,000. The event usually will host sixteen teams which have all gone through some intense qualifiers throughout the year. A chuck wagon team consists of four horses and one driver that pull at four wheeled wagon once around the "half mile of hell". Each race will have four teams pitted against each other and will run in heats for the duration of the event. For the first couple of days of the Calgary Stampede chuck wagon races the event is mostly for practice and exhibition. As the ten day festival comes to an end the event becomes much more competitive and exciting. It is not uncommon for there to be major accidents that involve serious injuries to both the riders and the horses sometimes involving death near the end of the festival. Because of the dangerous nature of the event it has been subject to much criticism and many activist groups have been trying to have it banned from the Calgary Stampede. As a result the Calgary Stampede has made a few safety regulations that have made the chuck wagon races much safer and less prone to serious accidents; however, talks of removing the races have never been entertained because it is the pinnacle of what the festival is all about.

If you ever plan to travel to Calgary make sure to do so in the first two weeks of July because you will definitely not regret it. The Calgary Stampede is and will forever be the greatest outdoor show on earth in my opinion and I will continue to attend it every year. If you do decide to attend the festival it is an absolute must you witness the Calgary Stampede chuck wagon races and feel the excitement for yourself. The event is unforgettable and something straight out of an old western flick.

For more information such as videos, pictures and ticketing for this event please visit Calgary chuck wagon races

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