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First female CPCA driver to make racing debut in North Battleford next spring

Oct 15, 2018 | 6:19 PM

When the horn sounds on May 31 at the North Battleford Exhibition Grounds and thundering hooves hit the dirt to start the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) season, history will be made by at least one driver.

As Amber L’Heureux cracks the reigns from the seat of her wagon, she will become not only the first professional female driver in the circuit’s six-decade history, but in the world.

The 25-year-old passed the associations sanctioning tests in July and will purchase an official membership to the CPCA at the organizations annual general meeting Saturday.

The Glaslyn, Sask. native first took to the track when she was 14 in a small chariot running ponies. She went on to race pony chuckwagons for ten years and is eager to place four thoroughbreds in front of her wagon in 2019.

L’Heureux called the entire experience up to this point a little overwhelming, admitting she has to step back some days to take it all in because a goal she has worked toward her whole life is coming true.

The sport, she said, is in her blood, as her 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. Her family is equally as eager and reserved about next summer, she said, knowing the bounty of work that lies ahead but they are proud to see her achieve her goals.

Asked what message she hopes to send to young women in the crowd; “Anything is accomplishable in life no matter what your dreams are if you are willing to put in the work and the time and effort.

“If they believe in themselves they can accomplish anything,” she added.

L’Heureux said she has known and looked up to many of the men she will soon race alongside, adding they have been nothing but helpful in getting her prepared for the season.

“I grew up looking up to those guys and to be able to now move on and compete against them next year in the CPCA is great,” she said. “They have all been very supportive in helping find horses and everything.”

She is modest in what she hopes to achieve as a rookie on the circuit.

“I want to stay clean and consistent,” she said. “If running ponies for ten years taught me anything, it was that you may not need to be first every day but if you run clean and constant you can stay on top of the standings.”

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr