Come this Sunday (May 23) a familiar face is returning to the driving colony at Hippodrome 3R — three-time O’Brien Award winner Louis-Philippe Roy.

Roy, who has been one of the leading drivers at Woodbine Mohawk Park in Ontario, left Canada earlier last month to drive at Hoosier Park in Indiana after Ontario went into lockdown and racing was halted.

“They’re talking about qualifiers on May 27 at Mohawk,” Roy explained. “To be eligible at the track, Mohawk management requires that anyone coming from the United States gets a negative test taken minimum four days after the return to Canada.

“I don’t want to miss the horses I drive at Mohawk regularly,” Roy added. “It was safer for me to come back to Canada this week, so why not come back to Trois-Rivieres and drive some.”

Roy noted that he might also drive at 3R on the following Sunday, May 30.

“It will all depend on what’s the schedule here in Toronto. It’s my priority, but I wanted to be able to go see my friends in 3R once or twice before the beginning here in Ontario. I’ll be able to see my dad and qualify his horse DJ Power on Saturday morning and then drive at the track this Sunday.”

There are 12 races scheduled at the Hippodrome 3R this Sunday and Roy is listed to drive in four of the races. That may change after Thursday’s morning declaration of any changes by 9:00 a.m.

(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)