Among the keepsakes in Benoit Coté’s home office are a picture of him in the winner’s circle at Monticello Raceway with baseball great Joe DiMaggio in 1971, and the program from the Jan. 16, 1981 induction ceremonies for the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame.
That’s the year Coté joined the hall for his career achievements as a standardbred driver and trainer.
He wasn’t nearly done yet, either, competing until 1997, when injuries from a serious spill in 1993 finally caught up to him, stalling him at 3,639 wins.
“What I remember is that the ceremony was held in Montreal that year, (longtime Montreal racing executive) Georges Giguere was with me at the table, and they also honoured Mr. (Jean-Louis) Levesque’s great filly Fanfreluche on the thoroughbred side,” said Coté.
“It was special, a big honour. I didn’t know a lot about (the Hall Of Fame) back then. I was the third driver from Quebec inducted (after Hervé Filion and trainer/driver Roger White in 1976). Hervé was one of the best I ever saw. I think his brother Yves (on the ballot again this year) deserves to be there too. If not this year, pretty soon. He developed lots of good horses, he was a hell of a trainer, travelled everywhere and worked like hell. And he was breeding horses on top of that.”
Coté, who celebrated his 81st birthday this month, remains spry and fit. “I’m the same weight I was as a driver,” said the man whose demeanour and integrity often was compared to that of another Montreal sports legend, hockey great Jean Beliveau.
He still regularly visits Hippodrome 3R during the racing season and also makes an annual trip to the Meadowlands for the Hambletonian. It’s the track where he scored his richest victory in 1985 with Quebec-owned pacing filly Semalu Damour in the $600,000 Mistletoe Shalee.
“I still get recognized there. And wherever I go in Quebec, I still get recognized. People come up and talk to me, and I feel honoured by that. It leaves you with a sense of accomplishment.”
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)
Ben is class personified ! He
Ben is class personified ! He was a terrific all round horseman and worked tirelessly to promote the sport of horse racing in Quebec and beyond. Ben is always ready with a quick smile and an interesting anecdote about his career in harness racing . He was a fierce competitor on the track but always a gentleman . Ben is one of harness racing's true superstars !
Benoit is one of the most
Benoit is one of the most well-respected and gentlemanly horsemen I have encountered. A true class act.
Ben, always elegant and
Ben, always elegant and classy. Indeed, the '#4 of harness racing'.
An all round terrific guy.
An all round terrific guy. Benoit personifies the word "Class".
Ben Cote, a true gentleman
Ben Cote, a true gentleman and a great horseman. Proud to know him.
Doug McIntosh
There isn't a greater person
There isn't a greater person as ambassador for our sport. He truly is the "Jean Beliveau" of harness racing.
Ben, You were alwaysa a
Ben,
You were alwaysa a gentleman and an excellent horseman. You had a great career and I was proud to know you as well as do business with you.
Good for you
Peter Litwin