Despite the rain later in the day, Sunday’s Prix D’Ete was a big success, according to Hippodrome 3R General Manager Vincent Trudel.
“Whenever we can get 5,000 people to come out to the track it is a great day,” said Trudel. “Having hall of famer Benoit Cote as our special grand marshal of the Prix D’Ete was so good. So many fans greeted him and wanted to shake his hand. And even with the rain, what a excellent Prix D’Ete race it was. Rockin Ron and Wiggle It Jiggleit gave the fans a super race. I am so pleased that the Teague Stable brought their world champion to Quebec for all the race fans to see.”
For driver Yannick Gingras, the homecoming brought him his second Prix D’Ete win with Rockin Ron. He also won the Prix D’Ete in 2014 with Sunfire Blue Chip.
There is no doubt that if it did not rain that the all-age track record of 1:50.3 would have been broken. The race time of 1:52 by Rockin Ron over the ‘sloppy’ track was still a track record for four-year-old geldings.
Wiggle It Jiggleit’s trainer, Clyde Francis, gave 3R management a pair of the world champion’s horseshoes that will be given away in a special drawing on Super Sunday, September 4.
(With files from the QJC)