Looking back to 2019 Hungry Howe will be ridden in the 2020 Virtual Great Canadian Cow Race being live-streamed on August 8 at 3 p.m. Ridden by jockey Blake Fawcett, Hungry Howe will be raising funds for Community Food Share. Courtesy photo
There was a lot of fun as well as spectators during the 2019 Great Canadian Cow Race held during Dairyfest in Winchester. While the venue has changed this year, there is sure to be similar excitement when the race is live-streamed beginning at 3 p.m. on Aug. 8. Thompson Goddard photo
WINCHESTER – Though the Covid-19 pandemic has changed more than a few things this year, the annual Great Canadian Cow Race (GCCR) sponsored by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 108 in Winchester is moving ahead with a virtual edition of this Dairyfest favourite!
According to Janine Fawcett of the Winchester Legion, the 2020 GCCR will be a virtual event scheduled to be live-streamed on Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. There will be six cows in the race, each running for a different charity. Jockey’s include: Dale Myers (Winchester & District Memorial Hospital Foundation); Blake Fawcett (Community Food Share); Chris Short (Dundas County Hospice); Bruce Morris (Naomi’s Family Resource Centre); Terry Wagner (Carefor NorDun Centre) and Cindy MacIsaac (Veterans Service Dogs).
Fawcett explained how the race has 60 spots and movement on the virtual course is determined by the roll of the dice. She continued how two dice are rolled, with one die saying which “cow moves, and the other how many spaces.” With social distancing in effect, each cow must be six feet apart, and as this is the length of a hockey stick, the theme for the 2020 race is the original six hockey teams, with the cow’s name reflecting the team names. She commented how “the jockeys are having fun decorating their cows.”
She mentioned Community Food Share’s entry is named Hungry Howe (representing the Detroit Red Wings infamous right winger Gordie Howe), with WDMH Foundation represented by a cow name Orr-Dale-ly (Boston Bruin’s star defenseman Bobby Orr). The remaining original teams represented by racing cows are the Toronto Maple Leafs (Veteran Service Dogs); Montreal Canadians (Naomi’s Family Resource Centre); the Chicago Blackhawk (Carefor NorDun Centre) and the New York Rangers (Dundas County Hospice).
Jockeys have made a $100 donation to their charity. The winning cow will receive $300 from the Winchester Legion. Due to COVID-19 raffle tickets will not be sold, but jockeys will accept sponsors. While this year will be different, the 2020 Great Canadian Cow Race is sure to provide fun for everyone, while raising funds for the charitable organizations that serve our community. The event will take place virtually, and will be live streamed Sat., Aug. 8 at 3 p.m. on the Nation Valley News Facebook page. Receipts for donations of $20 or more will be provided from the respective charity.
Carolyn Thompson Goddard, grew up in Chesterville and attended North Dundas District High School. After completing her BA in Political Science at Carleton University she has worked as a medical secretary and library technician. In 2020 she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Journalism and has been a reporter and column writer for The Chesterville Record for over 10 years.
