There will be no chuckwagon races in Lloydminster this summer as the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) announced they’re postponing the 2020 season.
Marketing Manager Kim Carey says the organization was waiting to make a decision in the hopes that some restriction were lifted and they could continue the season in one way or another.
“The later it got, it became more evident that restrictions weren’t going to be lifted and for that reason and others, we decided for the safety of everyone involved, members, drivers, outriders, race personnel, fans, sponsors, we’ve had to suspend our season to 2021.”
Carey says the Board of Directors have been in contact with the drivers for several months discussing the options for the season. The Wainwright Stampede and other season event holders independently made the decision to cancel ahead of the CPCAs decision.
“We had about seven shows that cancelled because of capacity restrictions as well as financial reasons from sponsors pulling out. So many businesses are hurting right now with having to be shut down because of COVID-19 and the economy.”
Carey says they will now go back to planning for next season which she hopes will be bigger and better.
“We’re already making plans to be back at all of these places next year. Hopefully, this decision we’ve made is going to help a lot of drivers focus on themselves and their families and, of course, they still have their horses to take care of.”
The announcement follows the cancellation of the 2020 World Professional Chuckwagon Association Pro Tour on Wednesday.
The WPCA says after talking with those host committees, everyone agreed that the health and safety of the public, fans, volunteers, sponsors, and staff had to be the number one priority for event organizers.