Todd Baptiste Kurt Bensmiller
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CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Todd Baptiste 2016 - Did Not Compete Auction Order #32 2015 - Did Not Compete Birth Date: July 17, 1974 2014 - Did Not Compete Residence: Cando, Saskatchewan 2013 - Did Not Compete 2012 - Did Not Compete Coming off what he describes as his best season as a Chuckwagon driver, Todd GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 4 Baptiste is excited to be returning to NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 racing at the Calgary Stampede in 2017. BEST FINISH: 15th (2008) His successes last year on the CPCA circuit include finishing third in the standings CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS and having his horse Angelic Fiddler 2016 - 3rd named to the association’s Equine Outfit of Excellence. Todd believes a strong 2015 - 10th relationship built on trust is essential to keeping his horses happy, healthy, 2014 - Did Not Compete 2013 - 12th and ready to run. No stranger to the Stampede track, Todd lists outriding for 2012 - 18th his uncle, Edgar Baptiste, during his 1996 Calgary Stampede Championship win as one of his favourite memories in the sport. Chance Bensmiller CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS 2016 - 27th Auction Order #23 2015 - Did Not Compete Birth Date: November 5, 1985 2014 - Did Not Compete Residence: Dewberry, Alberta 2013 - 29th - Rookie Year Follow Chance on Twitter: @chuckwagons08 3 Chance Bensmiller will be driving in GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: his third Calgary Stampede in 2017. NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 The youngest son of three-time Calgary BEST FINISH: 27th (2016) Stampede Champion Buddy Bensmiller, and brother to two-time Champ Kurt WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS 2016 - 5th Bensmiller, Chance is making an impact 2015 - 11th of his own in the sport. His 2016 racing 2014 - 17th season was a solid one, where he captured the title during the CPCA stop in 2013 - 16th his hometown of Dewberry, Alberta. When not caring for his horses, including 2012 - 11th shoeing them himself, Chance can often be found at the hockey rink. He and brother Kurt were members of the 2009 Allan Cup winning Bentley Generals, proudly bringing one of Canada’s oldest national championships home to Alberta. CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Kurt Bensmiller 2016 - 5th - Semi Finalist Auction Order #5 2015 - 1st - Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby & Birth Date: May 1, 1983 Aggregate Champion Residence: Dewberry, Alberta 2014 - 1st - Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion Follow Kurt on Twitter: @BensmillerCWR 2013 - 6th - Semi Finalist 2012 - 16th As a semi-finalist in 2016, Kurt Bensmiller came extremely close to winning three GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 16 Consecutive GMC Rangeland Derby Championships NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 3 in a row. While unable to clinch a third 1st (2015), 1st (2014), 3rd (2011), 6th (2013) championship in Calgary, he did earn BEST FINISH: the title of Grande Prairie Stompede WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS Champion in 2016, and made the final in Medicine Hat on the WPCA circuit. 2016 - 3rd Kurt points to one special horse, a 19 year left leader named Ace as one of his 2015 - 1st - World Champion Chuckwagon Driver favourites. Ace has been on all but one of his championship outfits, and Kurt 2014 - 2nd calls him an amazing animal who just loves racing. Ace isn’t the only one who 2013 - 4th 2012 - 10th loves racing; Kurt says he is blessed to be able to do what he loves, with the people that he loves thanks to the support of his wife, three daughters and other members of his family. Page 1 CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Colt Cosgrave 2016 - 30th Auction Order #20 2015 - 23rd Birth Date: November 4, 1978 2014 - 32nd Residence: Craigmyle, Alberta 2013 - 12th 2012 - 26th - Semi Finalist Fourth generation wagon driver Colt Cosgrave has twenty years of experience GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 10 under his belt, and a brand new buckle on it after winning the Championship at NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 the 2016 Ponoka Stampede. Colt believes BEST FINISH: 11th (2016) patience is key when working with his horses, and was honoured this past year WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS for the success of his right leader, Cujo, 2016 - 18th who was named to the WPCA’s Equine Outfit of Excellence. Colt is the cousin 2015 - 19th of fellow driver Jason Glass, and older brother to outrider Chad Cosgrave. The 2014 - 21st Calgary Stampede’s Aggregate award, The Richard Cosgrave Memorial Award, 2013 - 21st 2012 - 17th is named after Colt’s late father. CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Troy Dorchester 2016 - 25th Auction Order #26 2015 - 25th Birth Date: December 6, 1972 2014 - 18th Residence: Westerose, Alberta 2013 - 9th 2012 - 1st - Calgary Stampede GMC Rangeland Derby Champion & A veteran chuckwagon driver with Aggregate Winner one Calgary Stampede Championship and three Championship Sunday final GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 19 appearances, Troy Dorchester definitely knows his way around the Stampede track. NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 3 Troy’s father, grandfather and uncle are BEST FINISH: 1st (2012), 3rd (2000), 5th (1999), 7th (2010) also former Calgary Stampede Champions, making him a third generation champion WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS driver. Troy’s extended family continues to support his racing career, helping 2016 - 23rd to care for his horses and celebrating his successes. In 2016 that included 2015 - 21st cheering him on as he travelled the WPCA’s circuit, where he raced to several 2014 - 6th - WPCA Clean Drive Award day money wins and the final four at the Grande Prairie Stompede. 2013 - 9th 2012 - 6th CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Dallas Dyck 2016 - 26th Auction Order #28 2015 - 27th - Rookie Year Birth Date: January 16, 1977 Residence: Dewberry, Alberta GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 3 Consecutive Follow Dallas on Twitter: @dallasdyck18 NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 2017 will be Dallas Dyck’s third time driving BEST FINISH: 26th (2015) at the Calgary Stampede after enjoying his rookie year in 2015. Dallas finished in the CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS 2016 - 8th CPCA’s top eight this past season and looks 2015 - 8th to best that this season. In caring for his 2014 - 8th horses, Dallas says he and his wife Lexi 2013 - 14th strongly believe in the use of magnetic blankets and leg wraps, using them for 2012 - 14th advanced therapy. He also works to make his horses comfortable by focusing on little details like talking to them when he’s in the barn, and leaving music on for them when he’s not around. Page 2 CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Chad Fike 2015 - 20th - Orville Strandquist Memorial Award (Top Rookie Driver) Auction Order #30 2016 - 31st Birth Date: May 13, 1988 GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 2 Residence: Cremona, Alberta NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 Follow Chad on Twitter: @cfikechuckwagon BEST FINISH: 20th (2015) One of the youngest drivers at the Calgary Stampede, Chad Fike won the Orville WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS Strandquist Award for top rookie driver in 2016 - 17th 2015 - 23rd 2015. This past season the WPCA honoured 2014 - 22nd him with the Herman Flad Memorial Award 2013 - 28th - WPCA Top Rookie Driver Award for most improved driver, and 2017 looks to be a great year for him. Like many of the drivers competing at the Calgary Stampede, Chad lists spring training as his favourite part of the chuckwagon season because it’s an opportunity to work with all of his horses every day, and he enjoys watching them develop. A fourth generation chuckwagon competitor, Chad is the brother of fellow driver Jordie Fike. Chad credits his grandpa, chuckwagon legend Ron David, with helping him become the driver he is today by being there for him through spring training and every race season. CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Jordie Fike 2016 - 28th Auction Order #31 2015 - 15th Birth Date: May 2, 1987 2014 - 16th Residence: High River, Alberta 2013 - 28th Follow Jordie on Twitter: @jfikechuckwagon 2012 - Demonstration Driver 2017 will be Jordie Fike’s fifth year competing GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 5 in the GMC Rangeland Derby, and he says NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 it is ten days of racing he thinks about and BEST FINISH:15th (2015) 16th (2014) 23rd (2011) looks forward to the other 355 days of the year. Spend time in Jordie’s barn and you WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS will clearly see the strong relationship he 2016 - 29th has with all of his horses, who he says impact his life in many different ways. 2015 - 16th Despite growing up around chuckwagon racing, it was hockey that first captured 2014 - 10th 2013 - 22nd much of Jordie’s time and attention. After playing two full seasons with the 2012 - 11th Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League he made the decision to take off the skates and pick up the reins. CALGARY STAMPEDE GMC RANGELAND DERBY STANDINGS Darcy Flad 2016 - 14th Auction Order #14 2015 - Did Not Compete Birth Date: October 28, 1970 2014 - Did Not Compete Residence: Bodo, Alberta 2013 - Did Not Compete Follow Darcy on Twitter: @darcyflad 2012 - Did Not Compete Darcy Flad is excited to be back racing at the Calgary Stampede after achieving GMC RANGELAND DERBY STARTS: 4 a career high 14th place finish in the NUMBER OF WINNER–TAKE–ALL FINAL APPEARANCES: 0 standings in last year’s competition. Darcy BEST FINISH: 14th (2016) 15th (2011) has been driving competitively since 2004, and is the son of former Calgary Stampede CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL CHUCKWAGON ASSOCIATION STANDINGS GMC Rangeland Derby Champion Herman Flad. This year he will be racing 2016 - 30th 2015 - 25th against his brother Troy, who is also among the 36 drivers invited to compete 2014 - 31st in 2017.