The adrenaline-packed thrill of competition combined with an unshakeable love of horses keeps a local cowboy passionate about his chuckwagon racing career.
Rae Croteau Jr., who lives east of Sundre, recently started his new season at the Grande Prairie Stompede, which ran May 25-29 and is the first show of the year for chuckwagon racing as well as the first big event of the outdoor season for pro rodeo competitors.
“We had a couple of good nights,” he said, adding there was also a couple of nights when the horses weren't performing quite as well as hoped.
“But by the end of the meet we had them settled in and working really good.”
He arrived about a week before the Grande Prairie rodeo even started to allow for some spare time to train the horses and get them accustomed to their surroundings as well as being back on the road.
“We were there about 10 days.”
The five-day Stompede has a strong committee and plenty of support from the town, he said.
“It's pretty impressive what they do. Even with the weaker economy the stands were full throughout the event.”
The cowboy started training towards the end of March in anticipation of the coming season. That includes spending time exercising the horses to get them fit and back into shape. By early May, he starts driving them and riding the wagon, he said.
“As they get into better shape, you're constantly monitoring their diet,” he said, adding the horses are provided with a higher fat and protein diet to get them as much energy as possible while retaining the animals' ability to think clearly and do their task properly.
“It's a full-time job. They're like a bunch of kids waiting for you to take care of them. They are our kids, pretty much. They have their own personalities and are loved and cared for,” he said.
“I know how to take care of a horse better than I can take care of myself most days.”
He had the past weekend off, but will be heading to Medicine Hat this weekend. From that point on, the rest of the season remains a busy one.
“Every weekend we compete,” he said.
“It's an addiction,” he said when asked what he enjoys about racing chucks.
The love of the horses takes precedence, but the adrenaline-packed thrill of competition also plays a huge role, he said.
Since his younger days, Croteau spent plenty of time watching his father, Bert, and grandfather, Ray, race. He's been no stranger to the Calgary Stampede over the past 29 years. He's been racing for 18 years, and this will be his 15th year in the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA).
“Time's gone by fast.”
Following a middle-of-the-pack finish in Grande Prairie, he expressed confidence heading into this season. The horses performed well during the last couple of nights at the Stompede, he said.
“They were maybe a bit over ready and anxious, but they ran well. I was happy with everything.”
Last season, Croteau finished his season in 12th place out of 36 in the WPCA.
“We were competitive — made a couple of dash for cashes,” he said, calling last season a “decent year.”
He said a highlight going into this season is a new sponsorship with Totem Group. The company owns and operates a number of local businesses, including the Sundre Golf Club, which will have its name featured on his chuck's tarp.
“They're excited and we're excited to have a local sponsor to have that support.”
Plus, it's a huge bonus for the town to have the additional promotion, he said. The Calgary Stampede is broadcast throughout North America and that means there's a big potential that many people will see Sundre's name. This could lead some curious individuals to start researching more about the community and what it has to offer, he added. In turn, that could entice new residents to move here as well as visitors who might find themselves enjoying spending time in the area, he said.
Perhaps the only part of his life that he dedicates as much of himself to as chuckwagon racing is his wife and two young daughters. Also ingrained in the rodeo life are his wife, Allison, and daughter, Cora, who is a trick rider in a group organized by his wife known as the Young Gunz Trick Riding Team, which performed at last year's Sundre Pro Rodeo.
Visit his website raecroteaujr.com for more about the local cowboy.
