Karen Chysyk

The Golden Age of Horse Racing

The Golden Age of Horse Racing

by Bob Gates The 1970s were a special time for the Sport of Kings. The decade bragged of its three Triple Crown winners Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978). Secretariat's sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes ended a 25-year...

Jockey Joan Phipps: Saskatoon Sweetheart and Downs Darling

Jockey Joan Phipps: Saskatoon Sweetheart and Downs Darling

by Bob Gates Life in Saskatoon grew to be a bore and at times even a nightmare for young Joan Phipps. School work couldn’t hold a candle to competing in the Saskatoon-Regina-Prince Albert light horse show circuit where she rode jumpers and barrel raced. Horses became...

Women who rocked the Powder Puff Derby

Women who rocked the Powder Puff Derby

by Bob I'm guessing the name "Powder Puff" was created by a male of our species. Certainly there aren't many women these days that would come up with such a sexist sounding name for a horse race featuring women-only riders or "jockettes" as they were often called, a...