Trailblazers

Tom Lauder

Tom Lauder was born the son of an Irish veterinarian in 1888 in the Calgary area, and grew up in Innisfail.

He was always interested in horses, and rode in the 1st Calgary Stampede in 1912 and never missed a rodeo if he could help it.

Tom homesteaded north of Trochu, Alberta in 1906 and married Goldie Zeirky on April 23, 1913. They raised 8 children.

At the 1923 Calgary Stampede, Tom Lauder competed in the Wild Cow Milking, Calf Roping, the Democrat Races and the California Cart Races, but it was the newly introduced Chuckwagon Race that caught his eye.

In 1924, Tom and his partner Ray Bagley entered a chuckwagon with Tom Lauder driving at the Calgary Stampede for the 1st time. On the strength of 2 first place runs, 1 second and 1 third place runs in 5 days, the Bagley & Lauder outfit captured the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby Championship.

Tom became chuckwagon racing’s first superstar and first multiple winner at the Calgary Stampede from 1924 to 1933, winning the championship in 1924, 1927 and 1928. A racing accident in 1933 had him sidelined until he drove again in 1939 and 1940.

In 1925 the success of the chuckwagon races at Calgary had Edmonton wanting to get races of their own as part of the Edmonton Stampede. The 3-day event saw the Bagley & Lauder outfit of Huxley with Tom Lauder driving have the perfect show. Three first place runs in three days gave the Bagley & Lauder outfit the inaugural Edmonton Stampede Championship. Combine the win in Edmonton with the win at Calgary the year before, and Tom Lauder became the first chuckwagon driver to boast victories in both of Alberta’s biggest cities.

Tom Lauder also won the chuckwagon races at the Ponoka Stampede in 1939 and 1940 – the first two years chuckwagon races were staged there.

Tom Lauder started what was to become the greatest chuckwagon family dynasty in the sport’s history.

Tom’s son Jack Lauder started driving his father’s Lone Star Ranch outfit in the early 1940’s and was one of the top drivers the next 20 years winning a few shows along the way. Jack Lauder was also a top outrider winning the Calgary Stampede Championship as an outrider for his brother-in-law Ronnie Glass in 1946. Jack Lauder was also a top rodeo cowboy, and along with Ronnie Glass won many Wild Horse Race Championships with Cliff Vandegrift.

Tom’s son Bob Lauder was also a top outrider winning the Calgary Stampede Championship as an outrider for his brother-in-law Ronnie Glass in 1941, as well as being a top rodeo cowboy.

Tom’s son Bill Lauder was also a top outrider winning the Edmonton Exhibition Championship as an outrider for Orville Strandquist in 1953, as well as being a top rodeo cowboy.

Tom Lauder’s 3 daughters Kate, Babe and Iris were all very accomplished horse women who each won countless horse races and gymkhanas throughout Alberta.

Tom’s daughter Babe was married to chuckwagon driver Ralph Buzzard (divorced) and their son Gary became a World and Calgary Stampede Champion Outrider.

Tom’s daughter Iris married Ronnie Glass who became one of the greatest chuckwagon drivers of all time winning 4 Calgary and 3 World Chuckwagon Championships.

Tom Lauder’s grandson Tom Glass became a 3 time World Champion Chuckwagon driver, a 4-time Calgary Stampede champion driver and outrode for 2 Calgary Stampede championship outfits.

Tom Lauder’s grandson Reg Glass outrode for 2 Calgary Stampede championship outfits.

Tom Lauder’s grandson Rod Glass was tragically killed aged 18 at the Calgary Stampede in 1971 outriding for his father Ronnie Glass. The WPCA’s Most Improved Outrider award is named in his memory.

Tom Lauder’s granddaughter Tara Glass married chuckwagon driver Richard Cosgrave who won many times as a driver including 2 Calgary Stampede Aggregate titles. Richard was tragically killed in a race in Kamloops in 1993. The Calgary Stampede Aggregate Trophy is named in his memory.

Tom Lauder’s grandson Doug Lauder (Jack Lauder’s son) outrode for many years and was the WPCA’s Top Rookie Driver in 1985.

Tom Lauder’s great-grandson Jason Glass (Tom Glass’s son) is currently a driver on the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour and was the 2000 World Champion Chuckwagon driver, the 2001 Calgary Stampede Aggregate winner, and outrode for 2 Calgary Stampede championship outfits.

Tom Lauder’s great-grandson Colt Cosgrave (Tara’s son) is currently a driver on the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour and won his first event as a driver at Red Deer in 2006.

Tom Lauder’s great-grandson Chad Cosgrave (Tara’s son) is currently an outrider on the WPCA Dodge Pro Tour and has outrode for 2 Calgary Stampede championship outfits.

Tom Lauder was the 1st of 4 generations of chuckwagon champions that is still competing to this day. His daughter Iris is identified as the first lady of chuckwagon racing.

The Ponoka Stampede is the only chuckwagon show championship that can boast four generations of the same family have captured its championship. Tom Lauder won the first two Ponoka Stampede Chuckwagon Championships in 1939 and 1940. His son Jack Lauder won in 1948; son-in-law Ronnie Glass won in 1942, 1947, 1950, 1951, and 1953; grandson Tom Glass won in 1972, 1981, 1986 and 1993; and great-grandson Jason Glass won in 1998

Tom Lauder was among many old-timers who were guests of the Calgary Stampede in 1973. He was honored with the Calgary Stampede's Pioneers Of Rodeo Award in 1998 and was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall Of Fame in 1985.

Goldie and Tom retired to live at Trochu where they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Tom Lauder passed away in 1974.

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