Driver Mario Charron and trainer Eric Valiquette were in the spotlight Saturday as Hippodrome 3R toasted its standout performers of 2013.
Charron won 63 races and more than $200,000 in purses at Hippodrome 3R to capture his first drivers' title while Valiquette sent out 25 winners from 71 starters to top all trainers.
They weren't the only ones toasted at the banquet Saturday night.
Pacer of the year was Dont Rustle My Luck, who had a record of 7-4-2 from 16 starts and earned $15,524 for owner-trainer Jean-Claude Cote.
Top trotter was Shark Drummond, who had eight wins and didn't finish worse than third in 12 starts, collecting $12,014 for Ferme Drummond and trainer Alain Veilleux.
Honoured as a builder was longtime owner and breeder Marcel Brouillard, while the personality of the year was paddock supervisor Real Martineau, 72.
Female drivers Marie-Claude Auger and Melanie Plourde, sixth and eighth respectively in the drivers' standings, were commended for their excellent year, and driver Sylvain Lacaille for his community involvement.
Elisabeth Carrier was named groom of the year.
Hippodrome 3R also singled out the 2013 achievements of pacer Duc Dorleans, who set an all-age track record of 1:52.4, Sans Frontiere, who set a new mark for pacing mares of 1:54.3, two-year-old pacer Hall Bro, who equalled the track record of 1:56.3, and Lucien Bombardier Pace winner Alevala Hanover.
Regional circuit honourees were Pierre-Luc Roy (driver), Nathalie Migneault (trainer) and Hippodrome de la Vallee (track).
(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)
Felecitations aussi aux
Felecitations aussi aux administrateurs, organizateurs et membres des associations pour un regain de vie des courses atelers du Quebec.Cela a ete une vraie joie pour moi d'assister aux differants programes de courses au Quebec, une de mes ocupation favorite.
Félicitations à tous les gens
Félicitations à tous les gens de chevaux qui ont été mis en nomination.
André Audette