Chance Flad makes driving debut at Strathmore Stampede

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

After 11 years of outriding, Chance Flad is getting a shot at making his dreams come true this weekend at the Strathmore Stampede and Heritage Days chuckwagon races.
With the retirement of Rick Fraser, a two-time Strathmore Stampede champion, a door opened for a new chuckwagon team.
That’s when Flad jumped at the opportunity.
“I’ve been outriding for a while now and I think it’s time to change things up and go for a new challenge,” said Flad.
Flad’s bloodlines in the sport are as thick as the reins on his horse, as he is related to the late Herman Flad and current drivers Troy and Darcy Flad.
Flad has also spent more than half his life around the sport of chuckwagon racing. When he was 11 years old, he was introduced to the sport when he met Doug Irvine.
After working with Irvine for a few years, Flad raced in his first Calgary Stampede at 15 and turned pro the following season.
Since then, he has been travelling with Irvine and riding in as many as nine heats a day for whoever needed an outrider.
He quickly shot up the World Professional Chuckwagon Association standings and was the second best outrider for the 2011-12 season. A few years later, Flad kicked off a three-year run from 2014 to 2016 where he was crowned the world champion. Flad hasn’t finished outside the top three in seven years.
“You got to have the heart and dedication to be a successful outrider,” said Flad. “You also need to know the horses really well.”
Going from one horse to four horses is going to be one of the many challenges facing Flad this weekend in Strathmore.
He needs to figure out which horses are better in the front and which are stronger in the back. He needs to figure out which ones can handle the long barrel and which ones are quick enough to make tight turns on the inside.
The choices are many, as he will still show up with Irvine, as they continue to travel together. Between the two colleagues there will be 27 horses for the four-day event.
Making his debut feel extra special will be the fact it’s close to his new hometown. Just recently, Flad moved from Saskatchewan to Arrowwood, and is looking forward to driving in the event closest to his home.
“I’ve ridden in the Strathmore Stampede 11 times and it always has great fans so it’s fun,” said Flad.
Fans can keep an eye out for Flad, as he will be racing with the yellow and black canvas sponsored by Aspen Crossing Railway.
With only three races remaining, by rule, Flad will start one point behind the rider currently in last, which happens to be Josh Hrynyk at 129.
It goes without saying, but a win at Strathmore would be an incredible feeling and a welcome early birthday gift as Flad turns 27 later in the month.
“I don’t have any expectations for this weekend or have any idea what this means for me next year. I’m just going to go out and try and ride penalty-free all weekend, then go from there,” said Flad.