The Quebec Jockey Club has received approval from the Quebec Racing Commission to begin spectator-less harness racing on Wednesday, June 24, which is National Quebec Day in the province.

Murielle Thomassin, the General Manager of Hippodrome 3R told Trot Insider that the track will host qualifiers on Wednesday, June 17 and Saturday, June 20 in advance of next Wednesday's card, which they intend to keep despite the racing calendar for 2020 not being officially approved.

Both Stephane Brosseau and Francis Richard, the leading driver and trainer respectively at H3R for the past three seasons, will both be in action at the qualifiers Wednesday.

“We have all our COVID-19 protocols in place for tomorrow morning,” Thomassin also said. “And all our horsepeople are prepared to handle the necessary procedures for safe distancing while in the race paddock.”

Thomassin said that a full 2020 calendar for racing at Hippodrome 3R will be finalized shortly. The Quebec-Bred race series for two, three-year-old and older horses will still take place and those revised dates will be released soon.

(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)