The curtain came down on Hippodrome 3R's 2024 race season on Sunday, Nov. 3 with a 12-race card that featured both a $6,500 Preferred Pace, won by Light The Torch, and a $10,000 pace for older Quebec-owned mares, won by Sauble Amber.
In the fifth race Preferred Pace, overwhelming 1-9 race favourite Light The Torch (pictured above) flew off the starting gate with driver Pascal Berube pulling the ear plugs to ensure getting the lead. With Aladdin (Stephane Brosseau) in the pocket seat, Light The Torch led to the quarter in :27.3. Then No Time At All (Francis Picard) went first-over with Perpetual Rock (Simon Delisle) second-over at the half-mile in :57.2. Never really challenged for the lead, Light The Torch led past the three-quarters in 1:26.4 and then held off Aladdin in the stretch to win with ease by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:55. No Time At All was third.
The win was the ninth of the season in 27 starts for Light The Torch. The four-year-old Always B Miki-Surfer Chick gelding is trained and co-owned by Marc-Andre Simoneau with Jean Fontaine. He paid $2.30 to win.
In the seventh race for Quebec-owned pacing mares, Sauble Amber and Berube went down the road from post five. Sauble Amber made front after a :27.3 opening quarter then led to the half in :56.2 with Latte Seelster (William Roy) sitting on her back and Dialmeup (Francis Picard) going first-over. In the backstretch, Sauble Amber opened up on the field, leading by five lengths past the three-quarters in 1:26. She went on to win in a romp by 15 open lengths in 1:55.1. Compassrose De Vie (Stephane Brosseau) was second over Dialmeup.
The win was the second in a row and 12th victory of the season in 34 starts for Sauble Amber. The five-year-old Betterthancheddar-Ambrosia Seelster mare is trained and owned by Michel Lagace. She paid just $2.10 to win.
Berube wrapped up his fifth straight driving title at 3R with the feature wins part of a grand slam on Sunday. He ended the meet with 76 wins with Marie-Claude Auger second with 52 wins and Stephane Brosseau was third with 41.
Simoneau, who captured his first training title at 3R, had a double (both driven by Berube) on Sunday and ended the meet with 30 wins from his stable. David Pilon was second with 23 wins and Louis-Philippe Turcotte was third with 20.
Trainer Marc-Andre Simoneau and driver Pascal Berube.
During Sunday's race card, there were three special presentations made to retiring horses.
Of the three venerable pacers, Andre Champagne's PL Gyro, a 26-time winner, was able to race one more time in the fourth race pace and the 14-year-old son of Mach Three finished a game second-place for Berube in his final start on the racetrack.
Gina Bragagnolo's 14-year-old Windsun Cheyenne, who has made his mark at 3R by winning a significant share of victories, was also retired. The son of Cams Card Shark is also in the record books for having won the mile and a half race in 2.58.1 on Aug, 27, 2017 with Brosseau at the lines. He retires with 46 wins and a generous bank account of more than $230,000.
The third retiree this day was Michel Audet and Roxanne Viau's 14-year-old pacer SOS Mach Xtreme. A career winner of 47 races, the Mach Three mare won many races on the Regional Fair Circuit.
Each retiree made a final appearance in the winner’s circle, had their front shoes ceremoniously removed and were presented with a monogrammed winter blanket.
With the end of the live race meet for 2024, 3R will be open seven days a week featuring simulcasting from around North America.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)