Layne MacGillivray – Tops All On Opening Night In Ponoka
Photo By Shellie Scott
Wednesday night saw the running of one of chuckwagon racing’s biggest and most prestigious events – the Ponoka Stampede. It was a cool night with a little rain, but an entertaining evening of racing for the Ponoka Stampede chuckwagon fans nonetheless. Reigning Calgary Stampede Champion Layne MacGillivray opened up the 2024 Ponoka Stampede with the fast time of the night with a 1:13.43.
Coming off barrel number 1 in the 8th heat, MacGillivray – driving the SECURE Energy outfit – placed first on the night by 36 one-hundredths of a second over former World Champion Luke Tournier. Cody Ridsdale was third, Rae Croteau Jr. placed fourth, with Kurt Bensmiller rounding out the top five for the night.
The top 8 in the aggregate after Saturday night’s run will go into the semi-final round on Sunday in heats 7 and 9. The top 4 times from the semi-final round on June 30 will go into the $75,000.00 Tommy Dorchester Championship Final Heat where the winner will take home the 2024 Ponoka Stampede Championship.
Day 2 of the Ponoka Stampede Championship can be heard on WPCA Radio live on Thursday night starting 7:30pm Mountain time on New Country 910.
Billy Melville
