High bidders rolled into town for the Ponoka Stampede and Exhibition Association chuckwagon tarp auction, which saw record sales despite tough economic times.
There was some uncertainty in the crowd Friday, May 1 at the Stagecoach Saloon as other canvas auctions were down in sales but Ponoka’s six day World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) heritage racing event during the Ponoka Stampede appears to be a draw for bidders.
Roger Moore took the high bid of $50,000 — he brought in $51,000 last year — from Pidherney’s with the next highest bid at $25,000 for Kurt Bensmiller from the Tsuu T’ina Nation. Stampede vice-president and organizer of the auction Blair Vold says six nights of chuckwagon races is a good opportunity for corporate sponsors to be promoted.
“This brings more of the bigger sponsors here . . . it’s just a big show and lots more prize money up,” said Vold.
He added the chuckwagon races would be broadcast live via pay-per-view during the Stampede. “If you can’t make it to the rodeo you can watch it live,” Vold said.
WPCA president speaks on new endeavours
The WPCA is actively looking at ways of improving its audience base, says president Ed Wittchen. Tools such as social media are embraced and drivers and outriders are encouraged to take to sites such as Twitter and Facebook. “All that’s designed to attract a wider audience, retain a wider audience; you know, build our brand,” he said.
With the other tarp auction sales seem to be down from recent years, Wittchen says he has been reminding drivers about the importance of getting to know their sponsors. In Ponoka’s case that seems to have worked.
Speaking on some drivers, Wittchen says they and their sponsors have become personal friends. “When times got tough . . . they didn’t walk away,” he remarked.
Pilot program to track horses
The WPCA has been quite vocal about its code of care that ensures proper treatment of racehorses. Continuing on with that plan, the association is working on a two-year pilot program to use electronic chips in the thoroughbred WPCA horses.
Wittchen says the new program, dubbed the Traceability Project, will give the association first-hand knowledge of where every horse is and which horses are racing. Officials can then waive a detection device over a horse before a race to ensure what riders say is accurate.
“We do random drug tests and on the drivers every show,” explained Wittchen.
Vice-president John Lee has been working on this project for some time and he says the WPCA is working closely with provincial and federal planners.
“Really, we’re the only equine organization that really has stepped forward now,” said Lee.
With electronic chips, there is also a means of tracking the horses if they are stolen, he added.
To do this, the WPCA is developing new software and Lee says drivers are embracing the initiative.
“Most of the stuff that is in there, they’ve been doing anyway,” added Lee.
He feels following a specific code of care is becoming a vital part of animal and equine groups and he expects many associations will need to adopt something similar in the near future.
The WPCA tour rolls into Ponoka June 26.