{"id":13933,"date":"2021-07-13T10:31:42","date_gmt":"2021-07-13T14:31:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=13933"},"modified":"2021-07-13T10:31:42","modified_gmt":"2021-07-13T14:31:42","slug":"native-sun-news-today-behind-the-scenes-at-crow-native-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2021\/07\/13\/native-sun-news-today-behind-the-scenes-at-crow-native-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Native Sun News Today: Behind the scenes at Crow Native Days"},"content":{"rendered":" \"Indian<\/a>
Courtesy photo<\/figcaption>\r\n
Indian Relays \u2013 Behind the Scenes<\/div>\r\n
Tuesday, July 13, 2021<\/div>\r\n
By Clara Caufield<\/div>\r\n
Native Sun News Today Correspondent<\/div>\r\n
nativesunnews.today<\/a><\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nCROW AGENCY, Montana — June 25th, 2021, marked the annual Crow Native Days<\/a>, replete with many activities, the highlight perhaps the Indian relay races, a sport gaining immense popularity thrilling audiences across the nation. \r\n

<\/p>\r\nExceptionally talented and popular announcer, Kennard Realbird, Crow, explained that Indian Relay ticket sales have overtaken many western events at the huge Billings Metra Complex, generating more revenue than most events. In 2000, for example Indian Relay gate sales brought in more than the PBR and other rodeos, concerts, and other events, coming in second only to Charlie Pride, a Montana grown country music star.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\t\u201cHorse racing and gambling on that has been in our blood ever since the first two Indians got horses,\u201d Kennard Realbird remarked. \u201cIt\u2019s nothing new, just more organized now.\u201d\r\n

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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\r\nCordelia Falls Down: Crow Native Days 2021 Vlog<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\tThe prospect of \u201cadded money\u201d for the purse and prestige draws an average of 20 teams from all corners of Indian country to each event, often capped at that number for manageability. Though most teams have been in the sport for years, new teams are popping up left and right. The sport is expanding to include the Shetland Relay Races, grooming and encouraging the next generation and Women\u2019s Indian Relay.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\tWhat does it take to field a competitive Indian Relay Team? Two Veteran teams from the Crow Reservation recently shared their insights about that: River Road Indian Relay owned by Cody Brown and Velma Pickett and Old Elk Indian Relay, the driving force veteran jockey Ashton Old Elk, age 28 who has been a winning rider since he was 15. His wife, Charine is equally involved, especially on the financial end.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\t\u201cIt\u2019s like rodeo, an adrenaline rush that gets you hooked,\u201d Ashton said. \u201cIt takes a lot and at the end, even when we win, it\u2019s not about the money, but the satisfaction.\u201d\r\n

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