Winner of the 2023 Range Land Derby at the Calgary Stampede, Layne MacGillivray is racing at the WPCA Chuckwagon Races Thursday-Sunday. He's also attending a meet and greet where his face is on a locally brewed beer. (Ross Lavigne/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Chuckwagon race circuit comes to Medicine Hat

Jun 19, 2024 | 3:21 PM

Chuckwagons are taking over the Medicine Hat Stampede Grounds Thursday through Sunday as part of the WPCA circuit.

A big win for Chuckwagon Driver Layne MacGillivray last year was at the Calgary Stampede taking home the range land derby.

This year he is hoping to climb the World Professional Chuckwagon Association standings, sitting in seventh after the first two events in Grande Prairie and Bonnyville.

MacGillivray said the sport is something that gets his blood pumping.

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“It’s that adrenaline rush that keeps you coming back that thrill of competition,” MacGillivray said.

“A good part about our sport is you know, there’s a lot of family atmosphere in it and you know, our family gets to work side by side with us throughout the summer, and then again all winter looking out for the horses as well,” he added.

“That’s a big part of it, and just the people you meet.”

Lorelle Holowaty-Halderman, with the WPCA said the excitement of the chuckwagons rounding the fourth corner and dashing towards the finish line is hard to beat.

“If you’ve never been to the chuckwagon races come it is so addicting,” Holowaty-Halderman said.

“The energy, the feeling you get, the camaraderie of the whole sport is just an experience like no other.”

A WPCA meet and greet in Medicine Hat will include some riders featured on the associations official beer, Stolen Rail Lager, which is brewed by Medicine Hat’s Travois Ale Works.

MacGillivray finished in the top five drivers in the 2023 WPCA Standings, earning him one of the spots on the cans.

“”It’s huge. It’s a great partnership that we’ve got started here and and hopefully it continues on for years to come,” MacGillivray said.

“It’s very good for both sides.”

There will be tastings for a pair of the WPCA’s beverages during their event at Blowers and Grafton.

MacGillivray had a good laugh when CHAT News asked him if he’d ever imagined being on a beer can.

“No, I didn’t but it’s kind of fitting actually,” MacGillivray said.

“Because I don’t mind to have the odd beer.”

Evening races at the Stampede grounds are Thursday through Saturday starting each night a seven, with Sundays show starting in the afternoon at two.

A chance to watch the thoroughbreds racing to the finish line.

The WPCA hosts their meet and greet with the drivers and outriders Wednesday at Blowers and Grafton from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.