Horse collapses, dies after Calgary Stampede chuckwagon race

CALGARY – A post-mortem has been performed on a horse that died at the Calgary Stampede Friday. According to Stampede officials, the horse died of a pulmonary hemorrhage- a ruptured artery that can’t be detected with a test.

The outrider horse collapsed and died Friday night during the Stampede’s chuckwagon race.

Stampede spokeswoman Bonni Clark says the horse and rider were returning to the infield when the animal collapsed.

A veterinarian on scene determined the horse died immediately.

The horse, which was part of Doug Irvine’s team, died after heat four of the race.

Twelve-year-old thoroughbred “Hughey” was not involved in a collision during the heat, and there was no obvious sign of injury.

“Our thoughts are with Doug and his outfit on the loss of Hughey,” Clark said.

The thoroughbred had passed the Stampede’s “Fitness to Compete” program and all signs were normal before it was cleared to race.

The death on Friday prompted the Vancouver Humane Society to reiterate its call for the Stampede to suspend the chuckwagon race. It said it wants “an independent panel of experts review the event to determine if anything can be done to make it safe.”

“It is getting harder for the public to believe that these deaths are just coincidence or bad luck. There is something inherently unsafe about the race. Nothing the Stampede has done has stopped horses dying,” the society stated in a media release.

“Hughey” had been part of Doug Irvine’s team for five years.

Earlier this week, a steer at the Stampede had to be euthanized due to a severe neck injury it suffered during a rodeo event.

“We acknowledge that the death of an equine athlete in a public event may be upsetting for some people,” Clark said in a news release.

The steer could not get up after having its head and neck twisted to force it to the ground as part of the competition. Three veterinarians in the arena made the decision to euthanize the animal.

With files from The Canadian Press.