After a year without chuckwagon racing, the Battle of the Foothills drew quite the crowd last weekend.

Jordie Fike, one of High River's own, hoped they would be able to extend the races that were already scheduled in town for July.

He met with the High River Ag Society and proposed the idea, and after a lot of work from a bunch of different people, a one-weekend event became a doubleheader Battle of the Foothills.

"We were running short on places we could race this year just due to circumstances and to be in my own backyard is really exciting and to see the fans that are turning out and how much they love the races. It's just electric in there when you go in for your race, so it's really cool," says Fike.

The Calgary Stampede cancelled the chuck races for 2021 and is expected to have them return next year.

"Usually, we have a lot more race venues leading up to the Stampede, and the Stampede felt that we would come in there unsafe which we obviously disagree with. We’re professionals, and we know our animals and which ones would be putting a good product on the track," says Fike.

He says he wouldn't be racing today without all the support from those in the area last year when they couldn't race, which was hard on him and his horses.

"These horses they do really love what they do. You really saw it last year when they didn't get to do it, they just weren't themselves. You know, in the spring they were kind of excited and ready to go and then kind of strip that from them. A lot of them weren’t very happy. They moped around in the field for quite a while."

To Fike, taking the best care of their family of horses is the most important part of their sport.

"This is the time of year where they get to showcase their talents, and they're born to be competitors. That's just what a thoroughbred horse is. They're born to compete, so if you take that away from them, their lives aren't as full as they could be."