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Nostalgic Stars

July 20, 2007

During the chuckwagon races, run in Edmonton July 20-24, 2007, there is a competitor who stole the hearts of Edmontonians over twenty years ago. It’s not the likes of world champion drivers such as Dewberry’s Buddy Bensmiller or Bashaw’s Reg Johnstone, but a champion in his own right – a horse named Elmtex.

Let us turn back the calendar to the 1988 Canadian Derby at Northlands Park. It was an extremely strong field, and was to feature for only the 2nd time in Canadian Derby history the Queens Plate Champion. That year it was a horse named Regal Intention, and needless to say he was the heavy favorite. It was a miserable and muddy day, but as the old saying goes there isn’t an ill wind that blows that doesn’t help somebody. On that day local favorite Elmtex upset the beast from the east and carried jockey Yves Turcotte to his only Canadian Derby crown. It was a memorable day for the people of Edmonton.

In his career as a racehorse Elmtex won several other stakes races for owner Roy E. Haeberle such as the Sophomore Special Handicap, the Thanksgiving Handicap and the Herald Gold Plate, en route to well over a quarter of a million dollars in career earnings. When his career on the racetrack was over, Elmtex was purchased by chuckwagon driver Kelly Sutherland. Sutherland sold him to 2001 Edmonton Chuckwagon Derby Champion Herman Flad, and for the past several years, Elmtex has competed as an outriding horse behind driver Troy Flad’s outfit. At 22 years old Elmtex is still going strong doing what he loves best – racing.

In 2005, jockey Yves Turcotte was reunited with Elmtex. Outrider Eddie Melville overheard that Turcotte wondered where Elmtex was and how he was doing. Melville informed Turcotte that Elmtex was over in the chuckwagon barns still competing as part of Troy Flad’s outfit. Melville took Turcotte over to reunite with Elmtex 17 years after their unforgettable moment. It was like reuniting two old warriors on the battlefield of their greatest triumph. Turcotte was very impressed with how good Elmtex looked for being 20 years old, and was pleasantly surprised to know he was still running strong. Now at 22, Elmtex is still running and will be used as an outriding horse at Northlands behind Troy Flad’s chuckwagon.

Another horse of distinction that Edmonton race fans will see during Edmonton’s Chuckwagon Derby is a horse named Hanuman Highway. “Highway”, as he is known around the chuckwagon barns, is the star right leader on 2003 Edmonton’s Chuckwagon Derby Champion Jason Glass’ outfit. He is an Irish bred horse who ran 7th in the 1998 Kentucky Derby which was won by triple crown near miss Real Quiet. Highway is the grandson of Riva Ridge and the great grandson of Northern Dancer – both of who won two of three jewels of the triple crown including the Kentucky Derby.

Highway was acquired by former chuckwagon driver Ralph Buzzard who sold him to Jason Glass. He was a tough horse to train for the chuckwagon, but Glass showed a lot of patience and now he’s not only one of the top horses on Jason Glass’s outfit, but one of the top horses on the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour. On the WPCA’s Equine Outfit of Excellence in 2006, Highway was the third highest pointed horse out of over 400 horses that made the list. He is a classy horse and it shows.

Over 1000 horse trips are being made around Northlands track over the 5 days of Edmonton’s Chuckwagon Derby. Some, as mentioned previously were great racehorses that became great chuckwagon horses. Some are just great chuckwagon horses. As fans we might not be familiar with all their names right now, but all are great horses doing what they love – running and racing. We should all be so lucky.

Purchase your ‘Martin Equipment Presents Edmonton’s Chuckwagon Derby’ ticket at capitalex.ca or by calling 780.451.8000.

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