The first and only Quebec cowboy in history to participate in the national championships has been selected for induction into the Canadian ProRodeo Hall of fame.
Roger Lacasse, from Mirabel, not only qualified for the Canadian Finals Rodeo, he won the bareback riding title twice.
And, he set an earnings record doing it that still stands today.
Lacasse, who now judges rodeos in Quebec, won his first championship in 1997 and the second in 2004.
And the path to each one is remembered for something special.
In claiming his first buckle, he also won the Calgary Stampede’s $50,000 bonus, the Frontier Days rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyo., and the international rodeo in Barretos, Brazil.
Lacasse was saluted as a “Quadruple Crown” champion and named his new baby daughter Cheyenne.
The second came the year the CFR prize money purse first offered more than $1 million.
He had earned slightly less than $13,000 during the regular season, going into the championships sixth in the standings.
But he won first in three of the six rounds, tied for first in another, placed second once and topped the aggregate for $48,631.
Although the purse has now surpassed $1.3 million, no other bareback rider has since earned more at the CFR.
Lacasse actually went home with more – he also received an additional $4,000 in champion’s bonuses.
He came west and joined the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association in 1990 and would go on to qualify 14 times for the CFR.
His base was Edmonton, here he set up a roofing company. Through much of his career, his hometown was listed as Edmonton. But, in his banner year of 2004, home was Mirabel.
And, he still runs a roofing company – in Mirabel.
“We, the kids and the family, still love going to rodeos pretty much all summer time and I judge at a lot of them,” said Lacasse, who turns 49 next month.
“Last year I entered maybe three of them just for fun.
“The last horse I got on was at St. Time and he ripped my bicep.
“We had two rounds and a short go. I won the first round and was going to win the second round when I tore that (right) bicep.
“I imagine I’m too old to ride again; I think that’s about it after 33 years.”
The Hall of Fame ceremonies takes place on Oct. 20 at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Calgary.
The induction class of seven also includes:
– Two-time Canadian and one-time world steer wrestling and National Finals Rodeo aggregate champion Mark Roy.
– Nine-time Canadian allaround, three time Canadian High Point, two-time Canadian saddle bronc and four-time National Finals Rodeo aggregate champion Rod Warren.
– Three-time Canadian barrel racing champion Elaine Watt.
– Five-time Canadian tiedown roping champion Cliff Williamson, who also holds the record for consecutive Canadian Finals Rodeo qualifications at 29.
– The late Caroline stock contractor Harvey Northcott, who established his outfit in 1967.
– The Calgary Stampede’s six-time Canadian and six-time world champion bucking horse Grated Coconut.
Source: Calgary Herald