CFL and Stampeders to discuss whether mascot will be allowed at Grey Cup

The Canadian Press

TORONTO - The Calgary Stampeders are making a last-minute pitch to have their mascot — a horse named Quick Six — at the Sunday's Grey Cup.

The CFL team is meeting with league officials today to discuss Quick Six's status.

The horse charges down the sidelines at McMahon Stadium when the Stampeders score a touchdown.

But Grey Cup organizers say due to the game-day setup of cameras and staging, there's no room for a horse to gallop safely at Rogers Centre on Sunday.

The Stampeders arrived in Toronto on Tuesday to begin their preparations to face the Argonauts in the big game.

Quick Six and Karyn Drake, who has ridden Calgary's TD horse for 19 years and five Grey Cups, stayed behind in Alberta.

Calgary won its first Grey Cup title in 1948, beating the Ottawa Rough Riders 12-7 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. That's also when a horse was marched through the lobby of the posh Royal York by Stamps fans.

But hotel officials have said they don't want a repeat occurrence and wouldn't support any move to have a horse in its lobby for the health and safety of both guests and the animal.