‘We’re hoping to bring the championship back home’: MGBHLM’s In It 2 Win It chasing back-to-back at Stampede

“Charles and his brother grew up on horses, so, once we heard about this Indian relay, we decided to go watch it. Then one day, we just sat around the table, me, Charles, the late Mervin, and his wife and we all decided, ‘Let’s do this, let’s put a team together,’” said Frenchmen.

The team’s founding year was bittersweet. Mervin passed away in October 2021, shortly after In It 2 Win It was crowned the 2021 Season Champions of the Elite Indian Relay Association.

In It 2 Win It leading the charge during a race at the 2025 Stampede. (Calgary Stampede Chuckwagons & Relay )

Now, just three years later, the team is making history again, all while continuing Mervin’s legacy. In 2024, In It 2 Win It won the Indian Relay event at the Calgary Stampede, one of the sport’s most prestigious titles. Now, this year they are hoping to do it again, but to qualify, they had to race among the world’s top teams in Casper, Wyoming.

“We really wanted to get into Calgary Stampede to display the horsemanship and what we’ve been training. We ended up taking fourth place out of the best 44 teams in the world, and that’s how we got here,” said Stone.

Their current 2025 run at the Stampede has been equally impressive. With the final race set for Sunday, the team races again on Thursday in a bid to secure a top four finish and a shot at back-to-back championships.

The team features two standout jockeys: Lady Warrior (Lakeisha Ross) and Kaleal Jackson.

“She’s got a lot of interest and love for horses. We are just thankful that we have her here riding for us. She is an amazing rider,” Stone said of Ross.

Jockey Lady Warrior (In It 2 Win It/Facebook)

As for Jackson: “He’s one of the best riders out there. He’s been a phenomenal rider, he’s very respectful, a hard worker. He has been quite the asset for us,” Stone added.

However, relay racing is far more than just talented jockeys. It’s a full-time commitment with a team of four members at every race: the rider, the catcher, the setter, and the back holder/catcher. Behind the scenes, it’s a 24/7 operation of feeding, training, vet care, and even painting the horses with cultural symbols.

L-R, jockey Kaleal Jackson, catcher Carl Checkosis, back catcher Jordon Delorme, owner/setter Charles Stone. (In It 2 Win It/Facebook)

“It’s not just jumping on a horse and then you go. It takes a lot of work. Horses need to be attended to all the time, cleaning stalls, making sure they’re on the right diet. We paint our horses as well, and we take pride in that. The dots symbolize the Treaty of Mosquito-Grizzly Bear’s Head-Lean Man, and to keep them safe, we paint buffalo tracks on their shoulders,”

(In It 2 Win It/Facebook)

With that deep respect for both horses and heritage, the team remains focused heading into the final stretch.

“We’re going to focus on just making sure the horses are up and healthy. We’re keeping an eye on them because they run really hard. Every exchange is very crucial. We’re just hoping everything works out for our jockeys and we’re hoping to bring the championship back home,” said Frenchmen.

The team’s impact also goes beyond the racetrack. Their community has rallied behind them.

“We try to represent our Nation the best we can. Members are starting to see what racing is really about, and now they’re into it. We have tons of fans that come and watch, and that follow us from Grand Prairie all the way down to the U.S,” Stone said.

As the Stampede slowly draws to a close, all eyes will be on In It 2 Win It. Whether they claim a second straight championship or not, their journey is already an inspiring story of culture, pride, and family.

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Austin.mattes@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @AustinMattes

by Austin Mattes

‘We’re hoping to bring the championship back home’: MGBHLM’s In It 2 Win It chasing back-to-back at Stampede

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