After a meteoric rise from the Quebec fairs to the nation's top harness racing circuit, Louis-Philippe Roy has established himself as one of Canada's top drivers. Going forward, the three-time O'Brien Award winner is looking to establish himself as a more well-rounded horseman.
Roy, who recently surpassed $25 million in earnings after his sixth season as a full-time driver, told the Quebec Jockey Club's Daniel Delisle that he's seeking more stability in his career.
"Today, at the age of 31, I aspire above all to a more stable life,” Roy recently said. “When I go back in my head...all these years of moving, first to Gaspésie, then from Gaspésie to Trois-Rivières, then to Rideau, then finally to the Toronto area, it's a lot of hours on the road, by car, in all weather [conditions]. I'm not saying no to moving at some point with a horse from the Grand Circuit, but that's not my current stage. I aspire to a quieter life, to come home (to Guelph, Ont.) with the person who shares my life.”
Many racing fans may not know it, but Roy has also become a complete horseman who spends his time with young horses.
"I am very attracted to young horses, foals and two- and three-year-old fillies,” Roy said. “I love working with these kind of [horses]. Last summer, Richard Moreau and Chantal Mitchell raced the fillies that I co-owned with Adriano Sorella, and that I trained down during the winter. This year is a little bit different. Currently, I train eight horses: six two-year-olds and two three-year-olds that I brought back this year. I obviously can't do all this work on my own, so I hired Eric Nadeau. We are both there in the morning at the stable and I can count on him and his background of experiences gleaned here and there.
"I love this life,” Roy said. “It’s closer to what I wanted to do. And that doesn't stop me from driving at night and with Eric, I can rely on someone who is serious and hard-working. It's very stimulating with young horses: we try, we make mistakes, we learn, we rejoice in success. It is also one of the attractions of driving for other trainers, young horses. When you disembark the sulky after a race, you don't just hand over the lines. We discuss and I give my point of view to the trainer for the development of his protégé.”
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)