Well, it’s good to be back at the Stampede for my 20th year. I can’t believe how quick time passes. We have raced 3 days so far, and all and all, things are going pretty good. I am riding all 9 heats this year so far, probably a couple more than I would like, but that is what we are here for. My top outfits this year are Neal Walgenbach, Luke Tournier, Chad Harden, Kirk Sutherland, and Layne Macgillvray. Right now, Neal is sitting 4th and the others are down a little ways, but there is a lot of running left to get to the top 8 after Friday night. The outriders have a little extra help this week, as Gary Belecki form the Cowboy ministry comes by before the wagon races to give us a prayer behind the chutes before we ride. Most of the guys are embracing it well, and it is comforting to know that someone is looking over us - we need all the help we can get. I had a bit of a scare for Chad Harden opening night when my bridle fell off right before the horn was to blow. Luckily, another outriding horse got loose before the horn blew and the wagons had to pull out, allowing me to fix my bridle. I don’t know where we would have ended up, but it would have been somewhere in a hurry. Anyway, enjoy the stampede and we will have more to report as the days go by.
