This Sunday, Nov. 12 is the closing curtain on the 2023 harness racing season at Hippodrome 3R and there will be no battles for the leading driver and trainer awards as they are all already decided.
With a 24-win lead over rival Stephane Brosseau going into the final day of racing, driver Pascal Berube has wrapped up his fourth straight title as the leading driver at 3R. He has eight drives in the 10-race program on Sunday that gets underway at 12 noon.
It was just last year that on closing day, Berube won three times to become the first driver ever to surpass 100 wins in a single season at 3R.
“I am really proud to have won the championship again this year,” said Berube. “It's always nice to be able to get to the end and have this personal satisfaction. I'm so grateful for all the guidance that several trainers gave me; it warms my heart to see all the confidence they have in me to drive their horses. I thank them very much for giving me this chance.”
Berube said he has special plans for this winter.
“As for my schedule this winter...when Rideau Carleton is finished, I am going to take a few weeks to go visit my son, who is now playing hockey in the South of France on the Côte d'Azur. So, myself and Isabelle [Binet] as well as my mother-in-law Carole are going to meet him to spend the holidays with him and the beginning of January too.
“Afterwards, I will resume my little work routine at the grocery store where I work a few days a week in the summer," continued Berube. "In the winter period, I spend four to five days a week there and I like it. The owners of the place are really nice and I really enjoy being there.
“When March arrives, I will resume racing in Ottawa like every year and then Trois Rivières in April.”
The leading trainer title goes for the very first time to David Pilon, who heads into the final day of racing with a six-win lead over rival Marc-Andre Simoneau, 35 to 29. Pilon this season also has a very impressive UTR (Universal Training Rating or batting average) of 0.453.
“I am very happy to have won the title of trainer of the year,” said Pilon. “I did not expect this at the start of the year. This is a great personal achievement. After all these years of hard work with racehorses I am very satisfied with the results obtained.
“During last winter, Francis Richard asked me if I wanted to take over the stable to take care of the training of his horses,” added Pilon. “And I made the decision that yes, I was going to try to take on the challenge.
“In my opinion, I even exceeded my own expectations this year at 3R with the statistics that I had for 2023. I would like to thank all the owners and grooms who trusted me and helped this year. Without them, I would not have been able to make this dream year come true.”
And how will Pilon spend the winter months before 3R opens again in 2024?
"With the end of the year coming, it will be a vacation for some horses and for others they will head to other stables because I will concentrate on training the foals and young horses for the upcoming season in 2024. I do not race too many horses in the winter.”
Closing day at 3R will also feature a number of special events for the racing fans on track. There will be free race programs, discounts on beer, hot dogs, sodas and more. Free drawings to win wagering vouchers, live music and a very festive atmosphere will be present for the afternoon race card.
On the wagering side, 3R is going into the final day of the season having total wagering for the meet at $6,883,923 versus $4,883,915 in 2022, a 39.9 per cent increase over prior year.
First race post time Sunday is 12 noon. For more information and a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca. To view Sunday's entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)