After 46 Years, The Bruce Stampede Racing Mules Will Race No More

Leslie Giebelhaus - Submitted

Back in the 1970’s you would see Ted Holden around the Bruce Rodeo grounds riding a mule and leading a couple more offering rides during the rodeo. In 1979 Ted supplied three mules that participated in the first race that started a tradition that lasted 45 years.

Ted Holden rode Judy, whiles his friend and fellow mule trainer, Les Giebelhaus, rode Blackie, with Ted’s hired hand Bod Sorgjen joining the fun riding Star around the track in a flat race after the rodeo events were finished for the day.

The next year they had 6 mules lined up to compete.

The following year they had mule skinners from Tofield, Roundhill, Elizabeth Settlement, Drayton Valley coming around to join the fun. That’s when the fun really started to happen! They were gaining attention and started getting invited to rodeos and other racing events across the western provinces and down into Montana and Oklahoma. At one point they had up to 22 mules racing in 2 heats per night.

Since they originated from the Bruce Stampede and the Bruce area, the announcers started to associate the group with Bruce and would introduce them as the “Bruce Stampede Racing Mules.”  The Stampede Board at the time were asked and permission was given to use that name moving forward.

As the years went by, they decided that they wanted to showcase the mule’s endurance ability, and the “Great Canadian Mule Race” was born. The first long race in 1993 was 20 miles long, with the mule running or jogging the entire way. To add to the entertainment and get the crowds involved they had a Calcutta to choose the winners. In 1998 the race was dropped down to 14 miles and then in 2003 when the final endurance race was ran it was 12 miles.

Their popularity gained attraction and a highlight of their racing history is running at the Ponoka Stampede as well as being invited to the Calgary Stampede. A couple of skinners and their mules attended Camp Wainwright to demonstrate packing and help with some training for the British army.

Due to some Mule skinners and Mules crossing the great divide, the Marathon race at Bruce and travelling to other venues was discontinued. However, the race around the track remained a part of the Saturday events until 2024. Some new faces from Viking, Vegreville and Lamont brought out some mules to help keep the race going as long as it did!

In all the 46 years of racing, not one mule was injured. The same cannot be said for the riders…broken bones and broken hearts were sometime acquired after a weekend away.

Over the years they have had American Flag presented to them, carried our Canadian flag proudly. Had the 1996 Stampede Queen, Jackie Dickinson, do her entry on her mule. Jack Daines the rodeo announcer said, “I’ve introduced many Rodeo Queens, but never one riding on a mule.” Three generations have raced the Bruce Stampede track, but like most good things, it is time to come to an end.

The Bruce Stampede Racing Mules would like to thank the Bruce community, Stampede Association, sponsors and fans for their great support over the years.

As tradition with us we will leave you with an Irish Poem:

May the road rise up to meet you;

May the wind be always at your back;

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

The rains fall soft upon your fields;

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

May the lord help you all through the journey of life

An old mule skinner once said that he learned how to train a mule from his wife. Be gentle, kind, patient and let them think that they’re boss!