Bob Barker: Calgary Stampede Trip As 'Price Is Right' Prize 'Appalling'

First Posted: 02/ 1/2012 6:16 pm Updated: 02/ 2/2012 9:53 am

Bob Barker

CALGARY - A prize giveaway from "The Price is Right" for a trip to two to mark the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede has former host Bob Barker stomping mad.

The show, now hosted by Drew Carey, awarded a five-day trip for two to the Stampede in July on Wednesday's show.

This year is the 100th anniversary for what is dubbed the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.

"If I had been there, it would never in the world have happened," Barker said in an interview with The Canadian Press from his home in Hollywood, Calif.

"In fact, if I had been there, the people I worked with would never even have suggested it. But it has happened and it's very regrettable."

"The Price is Right'' on CBS has been handing out cash and prizes to lucky winners for almost four decades.

Drew Carey took over as host of the popular program in 2007 when Barker retired after 35 years with the show.

Barker said his knowledge of the Stampede is that it's "notorious for horses falling to their deaths."

"This Calgary Stampede is just an egregious example of inhumane treatment for animals. To give that prize away, I think, is utterly disgusting."

"Where is the show going next in the quest for prizes? You have to wonder what's next — a trip to Alaska to shoot wolves?"

But Barker acknowledges that as executive producer he was able to maintain control of the long-running show, including refusing to give away furs or cars that had leather interiors.

He doesn't blame his replacement for what has happened.

"Drew, bless him, is an animal lover because the first thing he told me when he and I shook hands was he was going to do my spay and neuter plug every show as long as he was the host. I said, 'thank you so much,' and he has done it," said Barker.

"Now he may not have any control over the prizes."

An official with the Calgary Stampede shrugged off the criticism, saying a lot of progress has been made in the area of animal safety.

"We're proud of our animal care and the way we treat animals," said Doug Fraser. "We're very proud of the way we've advanced our animal care program over the past few years so we'll just leave it at that."

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CALGARY - A prize giveaway from "The Price is Right" for a trip to two to mark the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede has former host Bob Barker stomping mad.The show, now hosted by Drew Carey,...
CALGARY - A prize giveaway from "The Price is Right" for a trip to two to mark the 100th anniversary of the Calgary Stampede has former host Bob Barker stomping mad.The show, now hosted by Drew Carey,...
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06:54 PM on 02/09/2012
I watched the Price is Right for many, many years and I NEVER ONCE saw Bob Barker show any disrespect to the girls on the show or anyone else. He is a gentleman and loves animals.

It's funny how these girls that tried to slander Mr. Barker ended up in the porn industry. Do you think money may have been their motive?
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Mike vdB
Get involved, always question, don't just exist.
03:51 PM on 02/19/2012
"I went to church for many, many years and I NEVER ONCE saw the priest show any disrespect or abuse the children in the church. He is a gentleman and loves animals."

Do you see the logic in your statement? How someone acts in public does not mean they act the same way in private.
04:53 PM on 02/19/2012
True, my statement is not logical. But you say, acting in public is different than private. How do we know what went on behind closed doors with Bob Barker? Many priests are proven child molesters. Bob Barker has never been proven guilty of anything. It's all about the money...remember the case with Michael Jackson? Nobody KNOWS what goes on behind closed doors, so let's stick to the facts.

It seems strange there has never been any proof that Mr. Barker has ever abused anyone. Here's part of a letter my friend wrote to a newspaper columnist:

"I have personally worked with Bob Barker as we share a bond regarding saving animals.

You referred to him as a skirt chaser. Have you noticed there has never been one picture, article, headline, neither before nor after his beloved wife, Dorothy Jo, passed of him with another woman? It has been Dorothy Jo all his life. Still to this day, Bob mourns her death.

I asked him if he would ever remarry. His exact words; “Nobody could ever fill Dorothy Jo’s shoes”.

Regarding the history of him and his female co-hosts, check into these women’s histories and what they have done with their lives since. These women will do ANYTHING for money.

How can you be critical of a man who has spent his life trying to make this world a better place?

Bob Barker chooses to give away his money to help make the world a better place."
05:45 PM on 02/05/2012
According to the Vancouver Humane Society, more than 80 animals have died at the Calgary Stampede since 1986. Many of the fatalities were horses used/abused in the calamitous "chuckwagon races." At the very least, these races should be run on a straightaway, not a circular track. That would greatly reduce the injuries/deaths. Where's the religious community on this moral and ethical issue, pray?

Most of the comments here seem to be to attack the messenger, Bob Barker, rather than the REAL issue: animal cruelty.

EVERY major animal welfare organization in Canada, the U.S. and Australia condemns rodeos for their inherent cruelty. Most of rodeo is bogus from the get-go. REAL cowboys never routinely rode bulls, or rode bareback, or wrestled steers, or practiced calf roping as a timed event--he'd have been fired on the spot. And babies, yet, often unweaned. Some "sport"!

Most of the animals' bizarre behavior is caused by flank straps (without which most would not buck), electric prods, raking spurs, stress, fear, kicks and slaps. For most of the animals involved, rodeo is merely a detour en route to the slaughterhouse. They (and we) deserve better. And you don't have to be a vegetarian to care. As Grandma used to say, "Don't play with your food!"

Rodeo is a 19th-century, macho anachronism which belongs in the dustbin of history, along with the Canadian baby harp seal slaughter.

BOYCOTT ALL RODEOS.
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Mike vdB
Get involved, always question, don't just exist.
03:56 PM on 02/19/2012
Also interesting how the Vancouver Humane Society uses the Stampede as fundraising tool. The Calgary Humane Society does not even support the actions of the VHS.
10:10 AM on 02/04/2012
Bob, It's time to go toward the light buddy!
03:02 PM on 02/02/2012
Rodeo cruelty http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZxL7umkbRo
evecaren
Every cloud has a silver lining
03:21 PM on 02/02/2012
I watched the link you provided, animalabusers. Truely horrifying the way the horses are
treated. I couldn't watch the whole video, it was too horrible.
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02:31 PM on 02/02/2012
GOD help those who spit in the face of the Calgary Stampede. Like when you live in Alberta and are a vegetarian. You might as well live in exile. Some people are so short-sighted and vile in their righteousness.
03:50 PM on 02/02/2012
It seems that doesn't speak well of Albertans. I wouldn't have guessed.
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Chris Berry
01:20 AM on 02/03/2012
How vile of us to sacrifice all forms of animal products for the sake of minimizing the suffering of fellow sentient Earthlings! Oh what horrible people we are! GOD HELP US!!!
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12:06 AM on 02/04/2012
Just to be clear Chris...my comment was sarcasm. I am against the Calgary Stampede and it's treatment of animals. I am vegetarian and have visited Alberta where I was mocked and judged for my beliefs.
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spinnerator
01:40 PM on 02/02/2012
Another big mouthed American with an agenda sticking his nose in Canadian business! Piss Off!@
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Celt Glen
04:03 AM on 03/12/2012
Spinnerator...I am an American and disdain the loudness of my countrymen.
01:36 PM on 02/02/2012
While I respect Barker as an animal rights activist his complaint will be felt like a fly on horses butt,no impact
12:11 PM on 02/02/2012
A local radio station host said it best, regarding Bob Barker. he said that "the women working with Bob Barker, on his show, were in much more danger than any livestock or horses would be, at the Calgary Stampede " !!
03:46 PM on 02/02/2012
But unlike other animals, they had the choice to complain or leave.
05:51 PM on 02/02/2012
No matter how much that animal rights groups whine and moan about the Calgary Stampede, it's going to have a wonderful future. Unlike Eastern Canadians , the West celebrates it's proud past and looks forward to a bright future.

But, feel free to twist your underwear in a knot, We don't really care what you think !!
12:02 PM on 02/02/2012
Wait a minute. Bob Barker stands up tall for animal rights after mauling his co-hosts on the show like a Grizzly Bear in heat for how many years?

Something is not quite right here...
01:37 PM on 02/02/2012
Has a weakness for cougars
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Chris Berry
01:23 AM on 02/03/2012
Apples and oranges. Subjecting a female to flirting is not quite the same as subjecting an animal to a violent death.
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Tragedy Of The Comments
11:38 AM on 02/02/2012
jgjg
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butchcliff
The future is unwritten
06:27 AM on 02/02/2012
Barker's beef is with the Price is Right's giveaway first. He's always been against rodeo. This has just given him another platform for his animal rights crusade.
03:44 PM on 02/02/2012
It seems that you feel that animals have no rights?
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butchcliff
The future is unwritten
05:46 AM on 02/03/2012
Why would you think that? Simply stated fact
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Daniel Kilgallon
Calgary Heavy Oil
10:21 PM on 02/01/2012
As a Calgarian I love the Stampede, and nothing will take away the horses. In fact, I could not call myself a Calgarian if I did not love and respect animals, it's our culture. Believe it or not many people in Southern Alberta still make a living off the land from ranching and agriculture.

If you don't like the idea of the Stampede Rodeo it's your loss, but I respect your decision. Let's just keep the name calling, and ridiculous "I'm more ethical than you are" campaigns out of it.

P.S. Agi days are coming up at the grounds!
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11:32 PM on 02/01/2012
I am a horsewoman, it is the chuckwagon races that are the real problem. The horses they use are used for their speed and being thoroughbreds they don't do very well in close quarters, they have too fine a build. If chuckwagon is to go on without all the accidents and deaths they need to use a different breed of horse. I am a former Calgarian and a I have competed with my horses all over western Canada.
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PeterTheChanter
12:46 AM on 02/02/2012
Puleeze. Read Eric Hobsbawm's Invented Tradition and get back to me.
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Nick Hatch
I'm So Meta Even This Acronym
03:11 AM on 03/12/2012
After 100 years is it still "invented"?
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harolddundee
09:47 PM on 02/01/2012
I doubt very much if the people in Canada care what Bob has to say about anything.
01:09 AM on 02/02/2012
or have heard of him at all.
12:15 PM on 02/02/2012
I care, and I'm Canadian, and I don't care much about what you have to say about anything to be honest.
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Mike vdB
Get involved, always question, don't just exist.
04:01 PM on 02/19/2012
And yet you decided to comment.
08:11 PM on 02/01/2012
Some of you need to educate yourselves before you criticize others. Bob Barker has paid for transportation of Elephants from the Toronto Zoo as well as other Canadian animal rights organizations. As for not being interested in rodeos, one would assume you know nothing about them. Do you know how the calves are poked to make them run as fast as they can, then a 'cowboy' comes running after it, on his horse, lassos the calf, snapping it's neck back, which flips the calf over backwards (imagine that being done to you) then the 'cowboy' runs up, flips the calf over and ties up it's feet. Only to see who can do it the fastest. Not to mention how many horses die in the chuck wagon races every single year!! No, the rodeo is a disgrace. It's disgusting. It's disgusting that in the 21st century this is still allowed to happen. REAL Cowboys have even stated how disgraceful it is... Animals all over the world need help. I help my local SPCA AND support WWF. Why can't Bob support animals in other countrys....don't be stupid...
08:20 PM on 02/01/2012
Agreed! F&F :)
01:10 AM on 02/02/2012
Don't care.