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Sean Myers 505 days ago
I’ve never been interested in the lottery. Well, that’s not completely true. Every once in a while some new millionaire will admit at the press conference that his retirement fund came from a one-off quick pick. That he never normally plays the Lotto 6-49. That will occasionally send me marching off to the 7-11 to buy a ticket or maybe two. Inevitably, it will come to nothing as I get two, maybe three matching numbers and toss the useless scraps of paper in the trash. As for the Stampede Dream Home, I’ve toured the deluxe house on the grounds in the past but never bought tickets. This year, however, in fact tonight, I got it in my head that maybe it’s my turn to win the big prize. To be precise, I got it in my head that winning the $840,000 Dream Home package would make life a little easier. I can see it now. Sell it, buy something more modest, go traveling and invest what’s left. (Hopefully there would be something left even with the state of our housing market) That’s right, ...
Mario Toneguzzi 507 days ago
Lord help my stomach, I just scarfed down another artery-choking snack from a food booth on the Stampede‚s midway. An $11 tub of Saratoga chips with all the toppings, in fact. Think illegitimate child of potato chips and french fries dripping with grease. This not being unhealthy enough of an option though, I decided to get it doused with layers of liquid nacho cheese, a hearty helping of banana peppers, and liberally sprinkled bacon bits. Of course, on the side, I needed some sour cream and ranch to dip the Saratoga chips in. I don‚t even want to think about how much grease and calories I have ingested. My digestive system should produce some, um, interesting results. Ah well, at least it tasted darn good. Gotta go now, I‚m starting to feel chest pains. -Trent Edwards, Calgary Herald tedwards@theherald.canwest.com
Mario Toneguzzi 508 days ago
Yesterday it was seniors. Today it is kids. The Stampede takes a few days each year during the 10-day extravaganza and makes it special for those two groups. I am fascinated how the Stampede organization has managed to turn this mega event into something for everyone no matter what their age is or their gender or their nationality. You can see it every day here on the grounds as you stroll along the midway or throughout the buildings. It is truly a cosmopolitan city within a city. - Mario Toneguzzi, Calgary Herald mtoneguzzi@theherald.canwest.com
Mario Toneguzzi 509 days ago
Today is Western Heritage Day at the Stampede and I was wondering if anyone on the park truly knows the history of this 10-day extravaganza. I am reminded of that history each day as I venture to the Calgary Herald office in Weadickville near the 17th Avenue entrance to the grounds. Now that name probably doesn't sound familiar to the vast majority of the thousands of people at the park each day - but it should. For, Guy Weadick is the inspiration behind this mega event which is now known throughout the world. According to the Stampede, Weadick was an American cowboy who in 1912 pitched his rodeo idea to the folks running the exhibition here. Actually he proposed the idea in 1908 but was rejected. He was again rejected in 1912 at first but H.C. Mullen, the general livestock agent for the CPR, hooked him up with four prominent Calgarians - George Lane, A.E. Cross, A.J. McLean and Patrick Burns - who each put up $25,000, making it possible for the rodeo to take place on the ...
Sean Myers 509 days ago
I've been a lucky sports fan of late. It started with an opportunity to sit in row seven at the Saddledome for game six of the Flames' playoff run and it continued over the July long weekend when I sat thirty rows behind home plate to watch my Blue Jays in Seattle. So when I got the chance to flash my media pass to get onto the track to watch the chuckwagon races Monday night, the chance seemed too good to pass up. Now, when I say on the track, I really do mean it. My shoes are still muddy. I parked myself for the night's races just behind the rope at the fourth turn standing by a huge John Deere tractor that will later pull the stage onto the track for the night's grandstand show. Beside me are two other tractors that will rake the track every third heat, an ambulance with the engine always running and a pick-up truck that's pulling a first aid cart. This is as close as you can get while not on a horse. By the time the races start, I admit I'm excited. The horn sounds and ...
