A veteran driver, who returned to action after a four-year retirement, and an emerging talent, who cracked the top 10 in his first full year as a professional, were among those honoured Saturday at the annual Hippodrome 3R champions' dinner.
Gaetan Lamy, 68, and Louis-Philippe Roy, 25, were named "comeback story" and "rising star" of 2015 at the banquet, which honoured the Trois-Rivières track's standout performers of the now-concluded season.
Lamy had 17 wins at Hippodrome 3R this year, while Roy had 25. The year's driving champion, Denis St. Pierre, had 48.
The track's top trainer in 2015 was Maxime Velaye. Personality of the year was owner Roland Trudel, who's been involved in the sport for 60 years.
Trotter of the year was six-year-old Caroluzzo, who had six wins and 10 top-two finishes in 14 starts and earned $14,250. He's owned by Michael Cote-Gagnon and trained by Daniel Martin.
Outstanding pacer was three-year-old Astreos Boy, who managed nine wins in 14 tries and $19,638 in purses. Owned by Francois Morin, he was trained by Yves Tessier, Daniel Laflamme and Pierre-Marc Longpre.
Winning the groom awards for 2015 were Mathieu Nadeau, Frederic Bourgault and Melanie Gaudreault. The 'fourth star' award for industry participants who are unsung went to trainers Andre Champagne and Simon Delisle.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean / Photos courtesy ThePhotoDesk.ca)