SPORTS TALK: Tribute to a wagon racing legend

By Greg Buchanan

The sport of wagon racing defines Lloydminster and area with its passion to race, and one of the legends was lost to us 2 weeks ago. Loon Lake’s Ray Mitsuing who, it was announced earlier this month, was being inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, has died unexpectedly. Devin Mitsuing, one of his four sons, has confirmed on social media that his father has passed saying, “My heart is broken.”

The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association stated, ” The Chuckwagon world is in mourning with the sudden passing of “The Chief,” Ray Mitsuing. Ray’s accomplishments on the track are many, spanning a 36-year long career. He has a legacy that is cemented in both the hearts of his fans, as well as the history books, as he is set to be inducted in the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame. Ray was a great man on the track and an even better man off the track. He was always willing to lend a hand and pass on his knowledge. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time. ”

Over the next 30 chuckwagon seasons, Ray Mitsuing’s career became the stuff of legends. In 1992 he was the Calgary Stampede’s Aggregate Champion, made his second appearance in the Rangeland Derby’s Championship Final Heat, and for the second time was the Rangeland Derby’s reserve champion, this time to Tom Glass by just 57 one-hundredths of a second. Ray would go on to win the CPCA Championship seven times, five times he would be the CPCA’s High Point Driver, and three times. Ray’s final race was in his record 13th and final trip to the Championship Final Heat for the overall CPCA Championship in 2019 as well.

Off  of the racetrack, Ray was a leader of First Nations in Saskatchewan. At just the age of 24 he was first elected Chief of the Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation in Loon Lake and served the Nation as Chief for sixteen years. He also served the CPCA on the board of directors for many years as a board member and in the role of President of the association. On February 16, 2016, Ray was appointed to the Senate of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). In 2003 Ray received the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) Sports and Recreation Award, and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Horse Federation’s Hall of Fame in 2020.

Ray was a legend, a leader, and my good friend ….We will miss you Chief. Turn those barrels one last time. Ay-hay my friend.