Stampede to review chuckwagon crash

Officials with the Calgary Stampede are promising a full review of a chuckwagon race crash that killed three horses and injured one man.

Stampede president George Brookman says he was sickened by the Saturday night incident.

"Three beautiful animals were killed and I am personally hurt by it," he said. "We just will not tolerate people who do not play the game by the rules."

Tyler Helmig, 45, of Leduc, Alta., was thrown from his rigwhen it ran into the downed lead team of driver Gary Gorst,whose rig had crashed in the first turn moments before, Stampede officials said.

Helmig suffered a hip injury and a possible broken arm, said Mike Plato, superintendent for Calgary's Emergency Medical Services. He was conscious when he left the track and was taken to Foothills Hospital, where he is in serious but stable condition.

Gorst was not hurt, but one of his horses was killed. Another horse was put down Saturday and a third one was euthanized Sunday.

Veteran chuckwagondriver Kelly Sutherland was suspended following the race for unsafe driving, said a release by the Stampede.