While this year’s National Caretakers Appreciation Day is virtual, Hippodrome 3R will be honouring all caretakers throughout the race card on Sunday (Sept. 20) that starts at 1:00 p.m.

The initiative by Standardbred Canada is more than worthy in celebrating the work that is done every day by the caretakers of the horses. Caretakers are the foundation of the harness racing industry and these men and women are deserving of the tribute being paid to them.

Standardbred Canada has been focusing on caretakers through the country the past weeks leading towards this weekend’s celebration. For the province of Quebec, caretakers Mathieu Nadeau and Clara Mary Corbin, were highlighted.

Every caretaker in the race paddock Sunday will receive a coupon for a meal in the paddock restaurant. Each caretaker will be named for each horse that races on Sunday.

Caretakers are the closest people to the horses, every day from early morning to late at night, especially on race days, they are devoted to their steeds and deserve all the recognition they can get.

On the racetrack Sunday, the seventh race is the feature event where two top three-year-old pacing colts, Eclat De Rire (post six) and Mickeymaksomespeed (post nine), will take on older horses as they are prepping for their $65,000 Quebec Championship Final next Sunday, Sept. 27.

Eclat De Rire is the 2019 two-year-old Quebec champion. The son of Leader Bayama won a division of the Breeders Trophy Series in a lifetime best 1:56.1 for trainer Maxime Velaye and owner-breeder Guy Corbeil of Mirabel.

Mickymaksomespeed never raced at age two for owner, breeder and trainer Michel Allard of Saint-Esprit. The Mickey Hanover colt has made up for lost time this year with seven wins in nine starts. He won two legs of the Breeders Trophy Series, the fastest in 1:55 and prior to that took a lifetime mark of 1:53.3 at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

The two colts will take on some tough competition going against Bali (post three), Stock (post eight) and return winner Blackjack Soleil (post two).

First post time Sunday is 1:00 p.m. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.

(Quebec Jockey Club)