Viterra Spring Chuckwagon and Chariot Races

Emily Mailhot Reporter – Vegreville News Advertiser

The 2019 chuckwagon and chariot racing season kicked off at the Vegreville Agricultural Society grounds with the 2nd annual Viterra Spring Chuckwagon and Chariot Races on June 1-2.

This season, Vegreville’s Dwayne Dubuc will fight to defend his chuckwagon racing championship, won here in Vegreville eat the Country Fair last August.

“Of course, every racer is always looking to win. It’s just a matter of seeing how the season plays out, and how everyone has improved this year. Nobody improves if everything stays the same.”

In the chariots, defending champion Chester Blatz also raced to start out the season on top of the standings.

Even in smoky conditions, attendance was fair: though the stands had plenty of room for more attendance, racing families commented that there was a

good spectator turnout compared to other venues. As well, most heats had 4 racers, possible at the Vegreville track because it’s wider.

At the top of the Night 1 race standings, Louis Johner took the chariots in Heat 4 with a total time of 67.84. Dwayne Dubuc championed the Night 1 chuckwagons with a total time 64.68 racing on barrel 3 in heat 8.

After the races wrapped up on Sunday, both racers were able to stay at the top, with race times of 66.25 (end 134.09) for Louis Johner, and 65.27 (end 129.95) for Dwayne Dubuc.

The chuckwagon standings were a close shave, with Chester Blatz close behind with a time of 65.63 (end total of 130.34).

The APCCA racers tied up the Viterra Spring Races in Vegreville, then headed down to Rocky Mountain House Sunday night, to begin a 7-day streak of travelling and racing.