A brighter outlook after several hard blows at the Stampede
Posted Jul 8, 2013 7:27 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
People may not be lining up at the gates for the Stampede like they did in 2012, but keep in mind last year’s Centennial was a record-breaking year.
Officials aren’t worried as the numbers are mostly on track with 2011, which they say was a great year for attendance.
But that doesn’t mean the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth isn’t having a few troubles, including a couple of nasty horses in the chuckwagon circuit.
The unruly horses have taken out two young drivers during the past 10 days following hard kicks to the body.
On the second day of the Onion Lake show, a 29-year-old driver was rushed to hospital for over 11 hours of facial surgery, after a blow to his face.
The Calgary Herald reports the man was forced to choose a relief rider for the Rangeland Derby.
Meantime, a 26-year-old driver was kicked in the right knee by a horse in the barn; he’ll be on crutches for the rest of the show.
There’s more bad news: during a Canadian Forces Skyhawks performance Sunday, a skydiver hit the ground fast and was rushed to hospital in life-threatening condition.
Officials say the manoeuvre went according to plan and the diver landed exactly where he was supposed to.
EMS says the man was joking when taken to hospital, and remains in stable condition.
Monday at the Stampede grounds it’s the 34th annual Giddy-Up Grits event, with a free pancake breakfast Monday morning for hundreds of special needs children and their families.
On the Coca-Cola stage, starting at 2 p.m. Canadian singer Anjulie performs, then at 3 p.m. it’s Shawn Desman followed by Dragonette at 9 p.m.
The Stampede Caravan is also flipping flapjacks at the North Hill shopping centre and at Cross Iron Mills until 11 a.m. Monday.
