Poitras Relay becomes first Canadian team to win ‘Stanley Cup’ of Indian Relay

The eighth running of the event took place last weekend in Auburn, Washington and in a Canadian first, the Meadow Lake-based team took the trophy “north of the Medicine Line.”

Poitras said it all began last winter when they received an invitation to race in the event that featured the top 21 teams in North America.

“They’ve been watching us for a year and a half,” he said, noting they didn’t even know they had garnered attention.

“It goes to show you know, you go there and do the best you possibly can, you never know whose watching you from a distance.”

The team, a four-horse exchange made up of Howie, Luke, Weekend Wizard, and Schocho, came into the weekend championship in the top position and Poitras said it came down to the wire.

“To run with the American teams, which…are pretty outstanding teams,” he said.

He explained he doesn’t see it as racing against other teams but rather racing with them and heading into the final race last Sunday were up against six of the best. Poitras Racing is a horse family and according to its leader, he said much of the credit for their success goes to his nephew Colten who handles much of training and is also a farrier.

The Poitras Indian Relay Team win picture. (Emerald Downs Photo)

“He’s a young kid and learning as everything goes,” he said of their third-generation thoroughbred business.

“The whole family event is what is really special about it, everyone involved is family,” he said, noting two of their riders – Treycen Wuttunee and winning rider Jay Peeaychew – deserved to be recognized.

“Hats off to those two boys – two amazing athletes.”

During the Battleford Council meeting Monday night, Councillor Alexis Christensen said she lost her voice on Sunday as her Nation’s team took home the title, the trophy and made history.

“I wanna just sent a really big shoutout to the Poitras…Indian Relay Team,” she said.

“Really exciting there, lots of screaming at a TV which I’m not used to.”

Mayor Ames Leslie echoed Christensen’s feelings.

“The Indian Relay in the Battlefords and the region has become a very popular, exciting sport,” he said.

“It is one of the quickest and most excitable things that you’ll ever experience right? It’s like NASCAR on horses.”

Thinking about the win, Poitras mind drifted to a rider who was lost to them far too soon one year to the day of the Sunday race.

“I thought to myself, ‘You know, we’ll dedicate this race today – biggest race of our lives – to the young man that had ridden for us.’”

He said he asked the young man to help guide them around the track safely so they may get home to their families.

“It all worked out.”

As part of their win, they received a blanket, a cheque for $14,200, championship belts and of course, the trophy.

The team has only just been back on this side of the border for two days but there is no slowing down as the next stop is competing in the Calgary Stampede in early July.

Reflecting on the roller-coaster week and their success, Poitras said it’ll take time to come down from the exhilaration he, the team and their community currently feel.

“There’s a lot of emotions,” he said

“I was telling someone after the race, ‘It’s what we always wanted and everyone wants to compete for.”

For the full race standings, visit: https://emeralddowns.com/indian-relay-2024/.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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by Julia Lovett-Squires

Poitras Relay becomes first Canadian team to win ‘Stanley Cup’ of Indian Relay

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