Happy Stampede Everyone!!! It is great to be be back for another year and as usual myself, my family, my barn crew and of course the horses are excited to be a part of the 2008 edition of the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!
We arrived here this past Wed. and had a hectic couple of days getting our barn setup and organized and our tackrooms arranged. However, we now seem to have settled in and feel right at home. The wagon also got a new coat of paint, so that it will look sharp even from the seventh floor of the grandstand.
Once again, my sponsor this year is ATB Financial. They have a number of events and functions planned, including daily barn tours and supper before the races for their clients, a visit to the Alberta Children’s Hospital and of course a few pancake breakfasts. Keep an eye out for Skippy, as he is out and about during the races and at many of the sponsor functions as well. I keep telling him to stay out of trouble, but he doesn’t always listen so well.
On night one (friday) we were in heat two. I decided to run the ”A Team” which is Fred and Jimmy on the lead and Coug’dit and Zach on the wheel. Unfortunately we got strung out three wide and ended up 25 on the day, which means we got to stay in heat two.
Last night (saturday) we went with the same team again. Although they sometimes don’t have the best start, they sure make up for it when they head down the home stretch. Last night was a prime example. Grant Profit, had a significant lead on us coming out of the fourth corner and we ended up catching him by a nose at the finish line to win the heat. Last night’s run was good enough to give us 8th on the day and bump us into 13 position. It is still very early on in the game, but I am happy so far and hope that the remaining eight days go just as well.
Chad Harden
