Hippodrome 3R opens for its 2023 harness racing season in Trois-Rivieres, Que. on Sunday, April 30 and no one is more ready to compete in the first race at 12 noon than defending driving champion Pascal Berube.
It was back on closing day of the 2022 season at 3R on Nov. 6 that Berube became the first driver ever in track history to win 100 races in a single season. And horses have been racing at 3R since 1830.
Berube actually scored a driving quadruple that day, closing out the record book at 102 wins. It was also the third straight 3R driving title for Berube.
When the first race goes behind the starting gate on Sunday, Berube will be competing. In fact, he has a drive in all nine races on the opening day program, the only driver competing in every race. How does he feel about the 2023 race meeting?
“As for 2023, I hope to have my share of success of course," said Berube. "In all new seasons, the goal is to win as many races as possible. I think that is the objective of everyone around the world whether you are a driver or a trainer. Last year was a more than extraordinary season for me because I practically doubled the number of victories that a driver wins to be champion in a season.”
How did Berube feel as he raised his fist and whip in the air in triumph after scoring his 100th win of the season with Café Society?
“When I achieved this 100th victory, I was really happy because it's still a magic number," said Berube. "Ninety-eight or 99 would have been very good too but many people were waiting for this moment because it seemed possible to do so. It was how things were going at that time. It was very nice to experience that special day and to have the encouragement of people on the edge of the fence at the races or even by text messages later.”
This is the second season that Berube is not training any horses and is working full-time as a catch-driver.
“Again, this year, I am concentrating only on driving horses," he said. "My wife Isabelle and I have trained horses for 30 years and now we see it more as a semi-retirement. Horse training is now in the foreground in our lives. But the years we did train was just that we loved them. It is what allowed us to have what we have today.”
What are the goals for Pascal Berube this season?
“I am currently champion for the last three seasons,” said Berube. “It is a great honour for me. The goal of leading the horses at the start is to take them to victory, which is not easy because everyone else in the race wants the same thing.
“But the important thing for me is to be happy after each race,” he added. “To have given the best driving possible. And if I know that sometimes it was not the case, I must therefore quickly recover. There is rarely anything perfect, but you have to be aware that the people who trust us have expectations of us. And you also have to understand that if I don't do the job, there are many others who would like take my place and do it.
“The new season starts on Sunday and I'm really looking forward to it. People are always in great shape when the first programs of the year arrive at the track. Everyone is looking forward to this moment and it makes the program very stimulating.”
In order to make it as a catch-driver, you need to have trainers that support you with driving their horses. That has not been a problem for Berube.
“My relationship with the trainers is good I think,” said Berube with a laugh. “In Trois Rivières, I do business with a lot of people, but my main client is Sylvain Tremblay for the last two to three years. He has young horses and we are having great success at the moment.
“What also helps me is that sometimes I have the opportunity to have a better drive in a race and he understands that,” explained Berube. “On the Ottawa side, I love working with Yves Tessier -- this man is so competent with horses it's incredible. The horses are constantly competitive from week to week and very consistent in performance. In my opinion, he is one of the best in the country in his domain.”
Opening Day Sunday at 3R could also be another very special day in the harness racing life of Pascal Berube. He heads into the program just a couple of wins away from a major milestone in his career.
“As of today, April 27, I am two wins away from my 3,000th,” noted Berube. “It's a few more wins that still makes me proud because I always hoped to get there, but let's say that a few years ago when everything closed due to COVID, I didn't really believe it anymore. For me personally, it's a milestone to which I am proud to arrive.”
Sunday kicks off the 41-day race meet at Hippodrome 3R. Live harness racing will take place every Sunday at 12 noon. The track will add Friday afternoon racing at 4 p.m. starting June 9.
And what are the odds that Pascal Berube will get the two wins he needs to reach the 3,000-win plateau on Sunday at 3R? Right now, he is the overwhelming 1-9 favourite to reach that career milestone on Opening Day.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)