Calgary Stampede | Don’t Miss This
Canadian National Miniature Horse Show
See the beautiful miniature horses in action as they compete in a wide array of classes including halter, liberty, driving, jumping and obstacle competitions at 11 a.m. in the Nutrien Western Event Centre.
Only Three Days Left to Try the New Midway Foods
Play it safe with new flavours of mini doughnuts, try something different with Mac N Cheese soft serve, or keep it simple with your favourites! See the new food list, here.
Stampede Rodeo
Showdown Sunday is fast approaching! See the world’s best competitors and animal athletes at The World’s Largest Outdoor Rodeo, daily at 1:30 p.m. in GMC Stadium. Learn more, here.
Mariya Stokes – 4-5:45 p.m.
Tristan Horncastle – 6-7:45 p.m.
Steven Lee Olsen – 10-11 p.m.
Drew Gregory – 11:30-1:15 a.m.
Tokyo Police Club – 5-6 p.m.
The New Pornographers – 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Wolf Parade – 8-9 p.m.
Cold War Kids – 9:30-10:30 p.m.
Jory Kinjo – 4:45-8 p.m.
Naturalist – 9 – 9:30 p.m.
Nicky Genesis – 9:30 – 10:15 p.m.
DiRTY RADiO – 10:15 – 11 p.m.
THE FUNK HUNTERS – 11 – 12:15 a.m.
Pool B action rolled on yesterday as Day 7 saw three-time, and the reigning Stampede Tie Down Roping champion Cory Solomon win the Day Money. Solomon, of Prairie View, Texas posted a time of 7.2 seconds, narrowly edging out Tuf Cooper at 7.3 seconds. This victory moved Solomon into second place in the aggregate standings with a total of $9,000 won so far this year. He, and the rest of the field continue to chase Cooper, currently in first with $14,500 in prize money through three days of Pool B competition.
Full Rodeo results can be found here.
For the third time since the start of the Cowboys Rangeland Derby, Chad Fike cashed in on Day Money with the fastest time of the evening on Thursday. Driving the Shaw GMC wagon, Fike and his team put together a time of 1:12.61 during Heat 8 and now has him sitting fifth in the Cumulative Results standings with a total of $29,000 in his pocket so far.
Full chuckwagon results can be found here.
From the stands to the Stock Dog Championships!
There are few things that rival the agility, cleverness and obedience spectators can see at the World Stock Dog Championships at the Calgary Stampede.
Billie Richardson was amazed by what stock dogs can accomplish while sitting in the stands as a spectator fifteen years ago—so much so that she decided to give it a go herself.
“I was that person who sat in the stands, lived in the city and had never trained a dog and I was completely inspired by the Calgary Stampede,” said Richardson, an Okotoks, Alberta, local.
“I remember watching the Calgary Stampede, I watched Dale Montgomery…I remember they said he was running a two-year-old dog and I was like, ‘How do you train a two-year-old dog to do that?’ And here I am, years later, and I will be running a two-year-old dog at the Calgary Stampede.”
Two of Richardson’s dogs competed at the World Stock Dog Championships this year.
Jim, a two-year-old Australian Shepherd and his dad Vinnie, a six-year-old. This was Vinnie’s third Calgary Stampede, where it was Jim’s first time competing at this event.
At the World Stock Dog Championship, dogs move three sheep through a course and into a pen—but it all has to be done in less than four minutes. Richardson and her pup Jim qualified as one of the Top 12 finalists. They competed at the finals on Wednesday at the Calgary Stampede, an event that is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year.
In real-life scenarios, dogs and their handlers are moving many more than three sheep and other types of livestock in their operations using a variety of whistles and commands. Richardson uses two whistles to work both her dogs at the same time.
“My real passion has developed into helping people train ranch dogs,” said Richardson. “When the dogs can enjoy the work, it’s absolutely priceless.”
Richardson explained the lessons her dogs have taught her.
“Oh, I love my dogs,” Richardson said. “The fact that a dog is so willing to do what they love for you for really what we would consider nothing—doing something because you love it—is probably the greatest lesson I learn from dogs every day. My dogs just give me a thousand percent every day.”
She said following her passion has led her to where she is today, with the help of her dogs.
“I followed what I love, and really I followed what the dogs loved, and I’m so thankful for that,” she said.
Double the Food, Double the Fun!
Best New Food on the Midway: The Best Original Corn Dog Food Award Goes to Libbertte Concessions!
Libbertte Concessions have been frying delicious corn dogs at the Calgary Stampede for over a quarter century. Each corn dog is deep fried in a perfectly balanced crunchy exterior and soft interior, making for a tasty corn dog at a reasonable price.
And Best ‘You Can Handle the Heat’ Food Award Goes to Bucking Hot Perogies!
Eight perogies with caramelized onions, banana peppers and a super secret hot sauce, combined with four slices of red pepper sausage. Can you handle the heat?
CPS Canines hit the Stampede Midway!
Earlier this week, the Calgary Stampede was the site of some very good boys and girls from the Calgary Police Service (CPS) Canine Unit.
These special pups, along with their CPS handlers, were on Stampede Park to have their pictures taken for the annual CPS Canine Calendar in support of the Calgary Police Youth Foundation. Proceeds from the calendars support child and youth programming in Calgary that focuses on crime prevention, education and early intervention. The upcoming 2023 Calendar will feature the dogs at many iconic Calgary landmarks including rides at the Calgary Stampede.
Malin, Piper, Axel and Bax posed on rides and earned treats for being fantastic subjects for their photographer.
The CPS Canine Unit consists of 22 different dogs in roles from general patrol to specialty detection work. In Calgary, the German shepherd is the most commonly used dog, along with Belgian Malinois and the Labrador retriever. These dogs are trained by CPS Canine members specifically for police duty, utilizing the dog’s natural drives and instincts and refining them to accomplish specific tasks.
The fan favourite 2023 CPS Canine Unit Calendar will be available in September.