Immediate Release
CONTACT: RFD-TV Public Relations, gretchen@rfdtv.com or 402-779-8101
RURAL RADIO announces first Canadian broadcast partnership with the World Professional Chuckwagon Association, 51 races
LIVE coverage begins May 28, Grande Prairie Stompede Chuckwagon Races
March 20, 2014 (Omaha, NE) – RURAL RADIO is proud to be the major international broadcast partner for the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) Pro Tour in 2014. Beginning May 28, RURAL RADIO will broadcast the race season LIVE from Canada, including Ponoka and Calgary. A total of 51 race nights are scheduled, with two hours of coverage per night. Listeners on RURAL RADIO SiriusXM channel 80 will enjoy a 15 minute pre-race show, the call of the races and a nightly wrap-up report.
Chuckwagon racing is an equestrian speed sport, dating back to 1923, with a driver commanding a team of horses pulling a chuckwagon with two outriders. The dismounted outriders begin with one holding the reins of the hitched team and the other loading the stove into the chuckwagon. The driver makes a tight figure-eight turn with his team of Thoroughbreds and races around a 5/8 of a mile track. The outriders must mount their saddled horses without using stirrups and finish the race within 150 feet of their driver.
“Chuckwagon racing is a demonstration of driver skill and team speed. Rural America has a passion for chuckwagon racing and we are excited to bring it to RURAL RADIO. Our commitment at Rural Media Group, RFD-TV and RURAL RADIO continues to be showcasing western sports and developing stars,” stated Randy Bernard, President & CEO of Rural Media Group.
Earlier Thursday at the ARCHIE BOYCE PAVILLION on Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta Canada the WPCA announced who would be bringing all the action to RURAL RADIO listeners. Award winning broadcast journalist Arnie Jackson, whose knowledge of rodeo and chuckwagon racing spans half a century, will host the show. Chuckwagon expert Billy Melville will provide color commentary, and together, the duo will bring race highlights, driver interviews and team backstories to RURAL RADIO. Les McIntyre, the track announcer will call the races LIVE.
“Chuckwagon racing is the most specular horserace on the face of the plant. It was born at the Calgary Stampede. Chuckwagon racing is very detailed and highly insightful. It is exciting to listen on the radio, especially when McIntyre, brings his colorful insight to the LIVE race. Now that we are over satellite radio, we can truly call ourselves the ‘World’ Professional Chuckwagon Association,” explained Melville.
Programming Schedule for (EST) is as follows:
| Date | Days | Location | Start Time (EST) |
| May 28-June 1, 2014 | 5 | Grande Prairie, Alberta | 9:30 p.m. All Nights |
| June 5-8, 2014 | 4 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | 8:15 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 3:45 p.m Sunday |
| June 12-15, 2014 | 4 | Medicine Hat, Alberta | 8:45 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 3:45 p.m Sunday |
| June 19-22, 2014 | 4 | High River, Alberta | 9:45 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 5:45 p.m Sunday |
| June 26-July 1, 2014 | 6 | Ponoka, Alberta | 9:15 p.m. Thursday - Monday, 8:15 p.m. Tuesday |
| July 4-13, 2014 | 10 | Calgary, Alberta | 9:30 p.m. All Nights** |
| July 24-27, 2014 | 4 | Bonnyville, Alberta | 8:15 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, 3:45 p.m Sunday |
| Aug. 1-4, 2014 | 4 | Strathmore, Alberta | 9:15 p.m. Friday - Sunday, 5:45 p.m. Monday |
| Aug. 6-10, 2014 | 5 | Dawson Creek, British Columbia | 9:30 p.m. All Nights |
| Aug. 13-17, 2014 | 5 | Rocky Mountain House, Alberta | 8:45 p.m. Wednesday - Saturday, 3:45 p.m. Sunday |
**Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Final weekend may extend to 2.5 hours due to awards presentation.
For more information visit www.ruralradio80.com and www.halfmileofhell.com.
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Notes to Editors:
About Rural Media Group, Inc. (RMG): Rural Media Group, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of multimedia content dedicated to the rural and western lifestyle. RMG is the parent company of RFD-TV, FamilyNet, RURAL TV, RURAL RADIO on SiriusXM channel 80, RFD-TV the Magazine and RFD-TV the Theatre. RFD-TV, the flagship network for RMG, launched in December 2000. RFD-TV is the nation’s first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America with programming focused on agriculture, equine and the rural lifestyle, along with traditional country music and entertainment. RMG acquired FamilyNet, America’s trusted entertainment network dedicated to providing wholesome and responsible viewing choices for today’s diverse family. RURAL TV produces rural business news covering commodity markets for both cash and futures. Daily productions include Market Day Report and the Rural Evening News. RMG networks are distributed into more than 63-million homes worldwide by DBS, telco and cable systems including DISH Network, DIRECTV®, Comcast, Verizon FiOS TV, AT&T U-Verse, Mediacom, Charter, Optimum, Brighthouse, Suddenlink, Time Warner, Cox, and more than 600 independent rural cable systems. RFD-TV The Magazine is the print programming guide for the networks, which has attracted over 180,000 paid subscribers. RFD-TV The Theatre is a 2000 capacity soft seat venue in Branson, MO where entertainment programming is produced. Corporate headquarters are in Omaha, NE, and production operations are in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.rfdtv.com, www.myruraltv.com, and www.familynet.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @OfficialRFDTV @RURALTV @FamilyNet @RURALRADIO80