Amber L’Heureux will make her CPCA debut in North Battleford, and in doing so, become the first professional female driver in the circuits six-decade history. (submitted photo/Amber L’Heureux)

By Tyler Marr

Taking the reins

History will be made as CPCA descends on North Battleford

May 28, 2019 | 2:09 PM

For nearly 50 years, professional wagon drivers have navigated the track at the North Battleford Exhibition Grounds.

But those holding the reins for Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) action have always been men.

That will all change Friday when the horn sounds and Amber L’Heureux takes off from a barrel in her pink wagon, making her the first female driver in the association’s six-decade history.

“I think it is going to bigger than I expect,” she said.

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L’Heureux first took to the track when she was 14 in a small chariot running ponies. She went on to race pony chuckwagons for 10 years and is eager to place four thoroughbreds in front of her wagon in 2019. She passed the association’s sanctioning test last July and purchased an official membership to the CPCA in October.

Since late March, L’Heureux has trained with her 14 horses.

“The horses are looking good and feeling good so I am really looking forward to getting on the track this weekend,” she said.

A native of Glaslyn, L’Heureux admitted there will be some added pressure launching her career in front of a hometown crowd, but is excited her friends and family will be able to come out and watch.

She has canvased fans through social media to come to the track decked out in pink to show support.

“It will be neat to look up in the grandstand after the first race Friday night to see how much pink we have there,” she said.

As a rookie on the circuit, L’Heureux is simple in her objective on the track this weekend: stay penalty free.

“For all the drivers this weekend, that is probably their goal because is it the first weekend out and there will be so many nerves running through everybody,” she said. “Of course, everyone wants to the fastest but for me, it is definitely running clean.”

L’Heureux’s father raced pony chuckwagons for 50 years in the province, starting at the age of 27. Both her grandfather and mother raced as well in the 1980s.

Having L’Heureux debut in North Battleford is equally tantalizing for local organizers.

“It is really exciting for us,” Battlefords Agricultural Society Manager Jocelyn Ritchie said. “We are really glad to have the very first woman driver in the association perform for her first time on our track.”

Thirty-six wagons are anticipated to run this weekend, according to Ritchie, with races kicking off at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr