One of the Grey Cup's oldest traditions continues in Vancouver with fans of the Calgary Stampeders once again leading a horse into the lobby of a hotel in the host city. In 1948, an overzealous Stampeders fan rode a horse into the lobby of the Royal York Hotel, one of the fanciest hotels in downtown Toronto. Calgary won its first of eight Grey Cups that year and Stampeders fans have recreated the scene every season since.
Diane Wensel, left, rides Tuffy the horse into the lobby of a hotel as the annual tradition kicks off Grey Cup festivities ahead of the 110th CFL Grey Cup between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes in Hamilton, Ont., on Thursday, November 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
- Nathan Denette
Bill Lundrigan rides Tuffy the Calgary Stampeders horse into the Metcalfe Hotel ahead of the105th Grey Cup championship football game, where the Toronto Argonauts played against the Calgary Stampeders, in Ottawa on Friday, November 24, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
- Nathan Denette
Tuffy the horse makes his way into a downtown hotel in Winnipeg, Man. Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in the Grey Cup tradition of a horse visiting a local hotel in the lead up to the game. The Edmonton Eskimos played the Ottawa Redblacks in the 103rd Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
- JONATHAN HAYWARD
Calgary Grey Cup Committee member Cain Quam leads Justin the horse to some carrots and beer at the Ramada hotel on Thursday November 21, 2013 in Regina. The Saskatchewan Roughriders faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 101st CFL Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards
- Liam Richards
Fletcher Armstrong, with the Calgary Grey Cup committee, rides his horse, Marty, in the front foyer of the Royal York hotel Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 in Toronto. The Calgary Stampeders played the Toronto Argonauts in the 100th Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
- Sean Kilpatrick
Dallas Mullaney, of the Calgary Grey Cup Committee, rides Kola the horse into the Chateau Lacombe Crowne Plaza hotel in Edmonton on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. The Saskatchewan Roughriders played the Montreal Alouettes in the 98th Grey Cup game. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Ulan
- John Ulan
Andy Gibson rides Major, a quarter horse, into the banquet room at the Calgary Grey Cup Commitee celebration as part of Grey Cup festivities in Edmonton, Thursday, November 21, 2002. The Montreal Alouettes played the Edmonton Eskimos for the Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer
- KEVIN FRAYER
Calgary Stampeders horse "Tuffy" ridden by Lloyd Jacobsen chomps on a carrot as they await to check in at the Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal on Thursday, November 22, 2001. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders played for the Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andre Forget
- ANDRE FORGET
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Diane Wensel, left, rides Tuffy the horse into the lobby of a hotel as the annual tradition kicks off Grey Cup festivities ahead of the 110th CFL Grey Cup between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes in Hamilton, Ont., on Thursday, November 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
- Nathan Denette
Di Wensel, left, watches as her horse Tuffy Nuff is fed an apple while checking in to the Grey Cup hotel in Regina, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
- Frank Gunn
Tuffy the horse arrives inside the famous King Eddy bar in downtown Calgary, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. The annual tradition kicked off Grey Cup festivities as the Hamilton Tiger Cats played against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
- Nathan Denette
Tuffy the horse checks into the Chateau Lacombe Hotel ahead of the 106th Grey Cup in Edmonton on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018. The Calgary Stampeders took on the Ottawa Redblacks. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
- Nathan Denette
Bill Lundrigan rides Tuffy the Calgary Stampeders horse into the Metcalfe Hotel ahead of the105th Grey Cup championship football game, where the Toronto Argonauts played against the Calgary Stampeders, in Ottawa on Friday, November 24, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
- Nathan Denette
Phil Landon rides Tuffy the horse as he registers at the front desk of a hotel as part of Grey Cup celebrations Friday November 25, 2016 in Toronto. The Ottawa Redblacks played against the Calgary Stampeders in the 104th Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
- Paul Chiasson
Tuffy the horse makes his way into a downtown hotel in Winnipeg, Man. Friday, Nov. 27, 2015, in the Grey Cup tradition of a horse visiting a local hotel in the lead up to the game. The Edmonton Eskimos played the Ottawa Redblacks in the 103rd Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
- JONATHAN HAYWARD
Tuffy is seen inside a hotel as part of Calgary Stampeders 102nd Grey Cup festivities in downtown Vancouver, B.C. Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
- JONATHAN HAYWARD
Calgary Grey Cup Committee member Cain Quam leads Justin the horse to some carrots and beer at the Ramada hotel on Thursday November 21, 2013 in Regina. The Saskatchewan Roughriders faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 101st CFL Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards
- Liam Richards
Fletcher Armstrong, with the Calgary Grey Cup committee, rides his horse, Marty, in the front foyer of the Royal York hotel Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 in Toronto. The Calgary Stampeders played the Toronto Argonauts in the 100th Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
- Sean Kilpatrick
Dallas Mullaney, of the Calgary Grey Cup Committee, rides Kola the horse into the Chateau Lacombe Crowne Plaza hotel in Edmonton on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. The Saskatchewan Roughriders played the Montreal Alouettes in the 98th Grey Cup game. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Ulan
- John Ulan
Llyoyd Jacobson and his horse Tuffy stand behind a woman as she checks into a hotel in downtown Calgary, Wednesday November 25, 2009 as part of the 97th Grey Cup festivities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
- Adrian Wyld
Denis Nadeau rides the Grey Cup quarterhorse down Ste-Catherine Street in downtown Montreal on Thursday, November 20, 2008. The tradition of bringing a horse to the Grey Cup started in 1948. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter McCabe
- Peter Mccabe
Calgary Stampeder mascot Joker and his rider Mark Dobrindt were refused entry by security to the lobby of the Royal York Hotel in downtown Toronto, Thursday, November 22, 2007. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods
- JOHN WOODS
Shawn Francis rides his horse, Winston, into the Calgary Grey Cup reception at the center for performing arts in Regina Thursday, Nov.13, 2003. The Edmonton Eskimos played the Montreal Alouettes in the 91st Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
- RYAN REMIORZ
Andy Gibson rides Major, a quarter horse, into the banquet room at the Calgary Grey Cup Commitee celebration as part of Grey Cup festivities in Edmonton, Thursday, November 21, 2002. The Montreal Alouettes played the Edmonton Eskimos for the Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer
- KEVIN FRAYER
Calgary Stampeders horse "Tuffy" ridden by Lloyd Jacobsen chomps on a carrot as they await to check in at the Queen Elizabeth hotel in Montreal on Thursday, November 22, 2001. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Calgary Stampeders played for the Grey Cup. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andre Forget
- ANDRE FORGET
Tim Airth rides his horse Kat through the doorway of the Winnipeg Convention Centre as part of Grey Cup festivities on Thursday, November 19, 1998. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kevin Frayer
- KEVIN FRAYER
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