‘A big summer ahead of us’: Sask. Indian Relay team charges toward Calgary Stampede and Muckleshoot Gold Cup

“We’re in full training mode right now, well behind a few days on training from the weather.”

Peeaychew and his team, the Black Bear Indian Relay Team, secured a spot in the 2026 Stampede’s ENMAX Relay Races after winning the 2025 Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Indian Relay championship with two nearly flawless races.

He began racing at 14. Since then, the Red Pheasant Cree Nation rider has become a two-time Canadian champion and a world champion – the only Canadian to win the U.S. World Championship relay title in Auburn, Wash.

Jay Peeaychew and The Calabrese Kid, also known as “Kid,” during a past Indian Relay race. The seven-year-old California-bred horse serves as the Black Bear Indian Relay team’s second horse and is entering his second season – his first full year – in relay competition. (Image Credit: Black Bear Indian Relay Team)

Jay Peeaychew and The Calabrese Kid, also known as “Kid.” (Image Credit: Black Bear Indian Relay Team)

Before Calgary, the team will face another major test at the Muckleshoot Gold Cup in Auburn, Wash., in June, an invitational event featuring top teams from across North America.

“It’s pretty much a world championship,” Peeaychew said. “Only the best get invited there.”

The race format there adds another layer of difficulty, with four horses instead of three.

“It’s just one more horse, one more exchange,” he said.

The timing leaves little room between the two events, with Muckleshoot set for June 12 to 14 and the Stampede races beginning July 3.

“We got a big summer ahead of us,” he said.

Now, seven horses are back in the program this spring, each one starting from the same place after the off-season.

“They had the winter off, so right now, our main focus is just slowly building up their leg muscles and their wind,” Peeaychew said.

“You can’t sit on the couch all winter and then go right into a race.”

Jay Peeaychew in action. (Image Credit: Black Bear Indian Relay)

The explosive elements of Indian Relay – jumping on and off horses at speed, timing exchanges – will come later.

“Once we build up their leg muscle, then get some wind in them, we’re going to start doing some Indian Relay practices, just jumping on jumping off them and working in some exchanges onto the horses,” he said.

That preparation extends to the rider as well.

“I’m the person who needs to be in shape, right? I’m the rider,” Peeaychew said.

Indian Relay Racing is considered one of North America’s oldest competitive sports. Riders race bareback around a track, switching to a fresh horse each lap in a designated exchange area.

Jay Peeaychew rides Kiton, also known as “Ice,” during a past Indian Relay race. The seven-year-old California-bred horse serves as the Black Bear Indian Relay team’s starter and is entering his second season in relay competition. (Image Credit: Black Bear Indian Relay team)

Before the hockey season ended, Peeaychew was balancing time between the barn and the rink, playing senior hockey with the Glaslyn North Stars while working on the strength needed for relay racing.

Despite the individual demands, he sees both sports through the same lens.

“There’s no I in team,” he said.

That team dynamic is just as critical in Indian Relay, where success depends on coordination between rider, crew and horses. In their debut season, Black Bear raced in 12 shows, reached 11 championship heats and earned victories at various competitions.

“I’m pretty blessed with a really solid group of team members on my Indian relay team.”

This season also brings new variables. Three horses have been added to the stable — each one selected based on pedigree and racing history, but still unproven in relay competition.

“You don’t really know if a horse is going to work out or not,” Peeaychew said. “It’s all a gamble.”

Bordertown, also known as “Bandit,” a 10-year-old Kentucky-bred horse and new addition to the Black Bear Relay team, is pictured. According to the Black Bear Relay team, the calm-natured finisher retired from a successful racing career last year after earning about $450,000 on the track. (Image Credit: Black Bear Indian Relay Team)

Among the returning horses, one stands out.

“I give all the credit to Punchy, really, for getting us our ticket to Calgary,” Peeaychew said, referring to the horse’s performance at the 2025 Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Indian Relay championship.

For now, even the experienced horses remain in the early stages of training, with relay-specific work still to come.

“They know the job.”

Jay Peeaychew of Red Pheasant Cree Nation rides his four-year-old grey horse, Counter Punch, known as Punchy, during the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede Indian Relay on Aug. 24, 2025. (Image Credit: Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede)

With a clean winning record on his resume and two major races waiting for him, Peeaychew said his focus remains simple.

“Just trying to stay grounded and calm and positive,” he said.

“Go out there and ride my race.”

The support behind the team stretches across multiple communities, including Red Pheasant, Sweetgrass, and Saulteaux, where family and supporters continue to follow their journey.

“It truly means a lot,” Peeaychew said.

“We couldn’t do without you guys.”

The crew (from left to right): Nowonder Poitras, Treycen Wuttunee, Charlie Nolin, Owen Rhodes and Colten Poitras. (Image Credit: Black Bear Indian Relay)

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

‘A big summer ahead of us’: Sask. Indian Relay team charges toward Calgary Stampede and Muckleshoot Gold Cup

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