Joe Carbury, voice of the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby, dies at the age of 91

EDITOR’S NOTE: Article has been changed to correct Joe Carbury’s age at the time of his death. 

The long-time voice of the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby is silent at the age of 91.

Joe Carbury passed away Tuesday at the Colonel Belcher Hospital after suffering a stroke two weeks ago, according to Keith Marrington, former director of Rodeo and Chuckwagons for the Calgary Stampede.

Carbury retired in 2008 after 45 years of calling the chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede.

He’s best known for his announcement at the start of each race: “There’s the horn … and they’rrrre off!”

“When you pulled into the barrels and you heard his voice and you’re sitting there as a competitor, you knew you made it,” chuckwagon driver Mark Sutherland told Global News Wednesday. “You were at the Calgary Stampede and Joe Carbury was hopefully going to tell everyone how fast you went and the fact you won.”

“He did so much for the sport just by being great at what he did and the sport…will be forever grateful.”

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Carbury was a local sports announcer in 1963 when he was asked to call a chuckwagon race.

He also announced horse races at Stampede Park from 1953 until June 2007.

“Just the sound of that voice, I’ll never forget it,” chuckwagon driver Jason Glass said. “When he said, ‘They’re off,’ no one else can say it how he did and it’ll stick with me for the rest of my life. He was an icon and he’ll never be forgotten.”

Carbury was inducted into the Alberta Sport Hall Of Fame in 2003.

He is survived by two daughters, Colleen and Kathy.

With files from Global’s Brendan Parker