Hippodrome 3R will award its meet titles to leading driver Stephane Gendron and leading trainer Francis Richard on its 2019 finale program Sunday (Nov. 10).
Both Gendron and Richard have enough of a lead in their respective categories that no one can catch them on closing day.
For Gendron, 50, from Quebec City, it is his first driving title at H3R. He kept his lead from early in the season and goes into Sunday’s program with 62 wins, nine more than Pascal Berube (53) in second.
As for trainer Francis Richard, will collect his third-straight training title at H3R. The resident of Cambridge, ON is just 29 years old.
Richard holds a nine-win lead (32) over his nearest rivals, Yves Tessier and Maxime Velaye, each at 23 wins.
“I might have seemed quiet this season,” Richard said, “but we were just out of luck on the day of the rich finals. We won multiples legs of the different Quebec sires stakes in the summer but when the draw came out for the finals, we drew a horrible bunch of 8 posts, and still got 6/7 cheques, it’s racing. You need luck and it just wasn’t there for us that day. We did win the Quebec Final with Lucky Promesses for the older trotting mares.
“I’m really proud of our team winning the training title,” Richard said. “Three times in a row is something special, and we work hard and it’s paying off in the end! I can’t thank my crew enough; they are dedicated to their work and we are all having fun doing it!”
This season there were two horses that Richard had from his stable that kept a smile on his face all season long.
“My two best horses this season has to be Major Bay,” Richard said. “He had not been worse than 2nd in all of his starts before drawing post 8 in the final and unfortunately hit a wheel, but he went on to Toronto to continue his season where he did very good.
“My friend Ben Baillargeon and his team took the training duties for my partners and I,” Richard also said. “And he made over $80,000 his season. I am very proud of him.
“My second favourite horse would be HP Napoleon,” Richard said. “If you remember this spring in an interview, I said he could be a nice horse if he puts it all together, which he did. So far, he has bankrolled over $85,000."
Following the meet at 3R, Richard will take the winter to ready for 2020.
“We plan on having around five babies this fall to break,” Richard said. “And we got some homebreds and got a few from sales. We will be very busy all winter.”
The third race co-featured Preferred Trot features the return battle between Seeyou Men (post 5) and Capteur De Reve (post 4). Seeyou Men won the battle last week. He will again be driven by Francis Picard.
Capteur De Reve will be handled by Stephane Gendron. These two top contenders have been facing each other all season long in some great trotting matchups. Also entered are Missionoftheheart (post 3), Sir Chopin (post 2) and Precieuse CC (post 1).
Then after the sixth-race trot, win, lose or draw, the 14-year-old Chinnys Wings will receive a retirement blanket in the winner’s circle. He will bow out for owner Nancy Lord and her husband, trainer-driver Jean Lord of Trois-Rivieres. All horses must retire from pari-mutuel racing at age 15. But don’t count Chinnys Wings out as he will still be able to compete next season in the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit.
The final feature race of the season takes place in the ninth with the Preferred Pace.
The field features the mainstay of the top pacers who raced at H3R all season long. Surf Report (post 1), Mister Big Top (post 2), Appleby Hanover (post 3), Maracasso (post 4) and Hooter Shooter (post 5).
Maracaso leads the way for trainer-driver Carol Voyer with ten wins this year. Both Hooter Shooter and Appleby Hanover have nine wins each. It will again be a classic matchup as it has been all season long.
First race post time is 1:00 p.m.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)