Claude Levesque, president of the board of directors of the Quebec Jockey Club (QJC), has announced the appointment of Jocelyn Faucher as the new general manager of the Hippodrome 3R harness racing track.

Faucher will be replacing Vincent Trudel, who has resigned from the position.

“As for Mr. Faucher,” Levesque said. “He is advantageously a known figure in horse racing and was the former director of the Quebec Jockey Club when it was first formed.

“He also served as public relation director at the Hippodrome de Quebec racetrack,” Levesque added, “and has demonstrated leadership in obtaining a reduction of taxes on mutuel wagering in 2010 and thereafter helped bring in changes in regulations regarding betting parlours, allowing the start of substantial revenue for the revival of the racing in Quebec.”

Levesque had only high praise for outgoing general manager Vincent Trudel.

“As general manager at 3R since January 2011,” Levesque said, “Mr. Trudel has contributed to the success of the Quebec Jockey Club and he revived harness racing in Quebec.

“With a small team, he participated in the implementation of a business model,” Levesque said, “which enabled some partnerships while building a relationship of trust with Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG), with service partners who had become fearful due to the situation of the racing industry in Quebec, and with the regulators (RACJ, CPMA).

“He ensured a stable administrative and financial management and solidified a partnership with the ATAQ by concluding a 15-year-old historic agreement,” said Levesque. “He established a network of 10 betting parlours and he set up a collaboration with the Trois-Rivieres Gaming Hall.

“Finally, Mr. Trudel led the revival the Prix D’Ete to become a Grand Circuit event,” Levesque commented, “and he established a good reputation for the QJC in the rest of Canada and in North America.”

The QJC administrators wish to thank Mr. Trudel for his dedication and significant contribution to the revival of harness racing in Quebec.

Trudel will nevertheless remain in place for the transition as well as to complete some pending files.

Jocelyn Faucher has begun his new duties effective immediately.

(Quebec Jockey Club)