On Sunday (Nov. 10), the curtain closed on Hippodrome 3R’s 2019 meet of live racing.

The leading driver of the meet was Stephane Gendron, who led from early on in the season and was never really challenged. Gendron scored one victory Sunday to end the season with 63 wins and a UDR of .355.

“I am very proud of being the leading driver,” Gendron said. “It's always an honour to win this title, and I work very hard for that.”

Will Gendron be driving anywhere this winter?

“No,” Gendron said. “I will not drive anywhere this winter. I'm taking time for myself, and will be coming back next year for the H3R race meet.”

Second to Stephane Gendron in the driver standings was Pascal Berube with 54 wins.

The leading trainer, for the third straight season, was none other than Francis Richard. He held a strong lead halfway through the race season and ended the race meet with 32 wins. His closest competition was trainers Yves Tessier with 24 and Maxime Velaye with 23 wins.

Chinnys Wings retirement.

After Race 6 there was a very moving ceremony for the 14-year-old Chinnys Wings, as this was his last pari-mutuel race. All Standardbred racehorses must retire from racing when they turn age 15 on January 1.

Although Chinnys Wings finished eighth in his final race, he was brought to the winner’s circle where the race bike and harness were removed and a beautiful winter monogrammed blanket was placed on the son of Armbro Ricochet.

For the record, Chinnys Wings made 235 career starts, recorded 45 wins and trotted to $382,333 in purse earnings. His record was 1:56.2. He was trained and driven by Jean Lord and owned by his wife, Nancy, of Trois-Rivieres. The Lords have said that Chinnys Wings will have a good home and maybe even race in the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit next year.

Removing the bike and harness from Chinnys Wings.

In the Preferred Trot, Precieuse CC, one of only two mares in the field, took full advantage of starting from the trail for trainer/driver Claude Beausoleil and wired the field.

Despite a first-over effort by Seeyou Men (who was driven by Francis Picard), Precieuse CC was not to be caught, as she went on to win by one length in 2:00.3. Seeyou Men finished second and, Missionoftheheart, who was the other mare in the field, finished third for driver Jocelyn Gendron.

The victory was the second consecutive win and eighth victory of the season for Precieuse CC, who is a four-year-old mare by Angus Hall that is owned by Marie Andree Courney of Chicoutimi. She paid $10.10 to win.

The fastest mile on closing day was recorded in the Preferred Pace, where Maracasso and trainer/driver Carol Voyer would not let anyone pass them. The duo wired the field in 1:56, but barely held off a late charging Appleby Hanover (Jocelyn Gendron) to win by a diminishing neck. Hooter Shooter (Pascal Berube) finished third.

The victory was the eleventh win on the year for Maracasso. The seven-year-old gelded son of Lis Mara is owned by The Alpha Stable of Metobetchouan and paid just $3.10 to win.

The biggest highlight of the 2019 season was in the $200,000 Prix d’Ete, which saw driver Daniel Dube lead from start to finish with This Is The Plan. The duo was first under the wire and the mile was clocked in 1:49.1.

The mile was the fastest ever in Canada on a half mile track and shattered the prior track record of 1:50.3. This Is The Plan is trained and co-owned by Ron Burke and it was Burke’s third triumph in the Prix d’Ete.

Track Notes: Pierre Luc Roy scored a driving triple on closing day. The Hippodrome 3R and its off-track wagering locations throughout Quebec will be open seven days a week all winter long for simulcasting. The 2020 season of live racing at H3R will begin next April. For more information, past race results, news stories and more, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.

To view the harness racing results for Sunday at H3R, click the following link: Sunday Results – Hippodrome 3R.

(Quebec Jockey Club)