On closing day, Sunday, November 13, the staff and management at the Hippodrome 3R will be honouring two harness racing “war horses” who will be retiring from racing. They are the trotter, Pablo Angus and the pacer Charlottes Tazman.

It is mandatory in North American harness racing that all horses must retire from racing when they turn age 15. All horses celebrate their “official” birthday on January 1 each year.

Both of the upcoming “retirees” are racing this Sunday at the Hippodrome 3R.

Pablo Angus starts from post six in the ninth race trot. This longtime veteran of the racing wars is sired by Fortuna Winner from the Garland Lobell mare, Heliante Angus. He was bred by the Fermes Angus Farms of Bedford, Que., and is owned by Mario Bourgea of Stanbridge East, Que.

He is one of the best trotters ever bred in Quebec. A career winner of $818,000, Pablo Angus gives true meaning to the phrase “war horse” as he has raced every year of his career. The only season he did not win a race was in 2011 when he made just one start.

At age two, three and four, Pablo Angus was a major stakes winner, mainly at his home track, the Hippodrome de Montreal, where at age four he took his lifetime mark of 1:53.2. Then at ages five, six and seven, he travelled to New York where he won in the Open Trots numerous times at both Yonkers and Saratoga raceways.

In the past few years, Pablo Angus has remained in Quebec and still is competitive both at 3R and on the Quebec Fair Circuit.

Currently trained by Gerald Woodberry and driven by Pascal Berube, Pablo Angus is a mild 4-1 odds in his race on Sunday. The old veteran still could show his heels to his much younger rivals and might surprise on Sunday.

Charlottes Tazman has not had as big a career at the races as Pablo Angus has. The son of Largo from the Big Towner mare, Tasmania Hanover, does boast career earnings of over $112,000 and has a lifetime mark of 1:53.4. He was bred by Alfred Moeller of Mount Hebron, N.B. and is owned by Daniel Cochrane of Trois-Rivieres, Que.

Charlottes Tazman raced every year, but 2011 during his career. He has grind it out every season and took his record at age three, winning eight times that year in his lone season in the U.S.A. at Rockingham Park. He raced most of his career in Canada.

Trained by Michel Grenier and with Jonathan Lachance in the sulky on Sunday, Charlottes Tazman has the difficult task of starting from the far outside in post eight in the second race pace. He, like Pablo Angus, is listed at odds of 4-1 and could be a factor in the race if he can overcome the outside post position.

It is befitting that 3R will have special retirement ceremonies for these veterans of harness racing on closing day.

Beach Runner A M will have a shot at becoming the winningest horse of the season at 3R Sunday when he goes from post five in the 10th race. He will be driven by Mario Charron for trainer Alain Martin.

Post time Sunday at 3R is 1:30 p.m. For a free race program, visit quebecjockeyclub.com.

To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.

(With files from QJC)