Pony-chuck driver ready for hometown races

Driving for seven years and able to travel across the province doing it, pony chuck driver Justynne Vandale is ready to ride in front of her hometown crowd this weekend.

The Meadow Lake product is part of a big family of racers with her sister, father and cousins all racing as well. Vandale most recently raced at home the last time pony-chucks were in Meadow Lake; four years ago.

Racing in front of her hometown crowd, Vandale said she still gets the same level of nerves taking the reigns as she does going anywhere else.

“I’m still nervous when I get into the cart and go in front of the crowd,” she said. “It’s difficult to explain, I feel nervous and then when I get on to the track it just fades.”

Racing with the North West Saskatchewan Pony Chuck Wagon and Chariot Association Vandale has traveled to Waterhen, Onion Lake, and Frog Lake so far and will be involved with races in Prince Albert and North Battleford later in the year.

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She said the season has been going good so far and is looking forward to the upcoming races.

Vandale is set to race on the weekend at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. all three days.

The pony-chuck races run from Friday, July 8 to Sunday, July 10 at the Meadow Lake Stampede Grounds. Friday night, Black Rain will entertain people in a fundraising concert for the Flying Dust Elders Lodge. Proceeds from the gate and 50/50’s will also be donated to the lodge.

Colton Swiderski is meadowlakeNOW’s municipal affairs, crime and court, health and education reporter. He can be reached at cswiderski@jpbg.ca or tweet him @coltonswiderski. Concerns regarding this story can be addressed to News Director Geoff Smith at 306-446-6397.