Driver Steeven Genois, a native of Quebec, will be back in action full time at the Hippodrome 3R starting with opening day on Wednesday (June 24).
The Quebec Jockey Club will be conducting a 40-day race meet that will run until early November of 2020. Hippodrome 3R will race primarily on Fridays (4:00 p.m.) and Sundays (1:00 p.m.). This week's special Wednesday card also coincides with National Quebec Day.
Genois, who is 32 and from Levis, Quebec, had a banner year competing at Saratoga Raceway in 2019, as he tallied 78 wins and steered his drives to more than $600,000 in purse earnings.
Genois was off to a slow start at Saratoga at the beginning of this year. He then made the tough decision to return to Quebec after the start of the pandemic in North America.
“I was there (Saratoga) at the start of the season,” Genois explained, “but because of the COVID-19 I came home to Quebec until the border reopens. Now I have changed my mind and intend to stay in Quebec for the summer.”
Genois will be competing in four of the eight races on opening day at H3R. And yes, race fans, it’s 'Steeve,' not 'Steve.' He explained that his mom liked the name, but wanted it different for her son.
“It is nice to be back home and to be with my friends,” said Genois. "Actually, the two driving colonies, H3R and Saratoga, are very similar. Excellent competition at both tracks. If I am asked, I will also go and drive at Rideau Carleton Raceway, too. Once the H3R season is over, I will most likely go back to Saratoga.”
Genois first started driving in Quebec back in 2007 and made the choice to drive at Saratoga in 2018. It took him a while to get into the swing of things at Saratoga, but by 2019 Genois was a sought-after driver by trainers at the track.
Ready to compete on opening day at H3R, Genois noted that it will be different without race fans in the stands.
“I am just very happy that racing has returned in Quebec,” Genois noted. “It will be different going on the track to drive without any race fans. At H3R the fans are usually right on the fence, watching and cheering, and they usually get a lot of fans to the races. Now it will be very quiet until race fans are allowed to attend again.”
Trainer Francis Richard, who will be trying for his fourth straight training title at H3R, will have five starters heading to post on opening day.
“I think it will be strange,” Richard said in regard to live racing being conducted at H3R without any fans watching. “Sort of like the qualifying races we have, but for purse money. It will be a little weird, I think.”
The leading driver at H3R, Stephane Gendron, who will also be in search of his fourth consecutive driving title, will not be competing on opening day. Gendron is expected to start defending his driving title during Sunday’s race program.
A Preferred Pace (Race 7) is set to headline the Wednesday program. The race will feature Sports Authority (Post 2), who finished second last week at Rideau Carleton Raceway in the Preferred Pace. In the Rideau Preferred, Sports Authority missed by a half length for driver Tyler Jones and was clocked in 1:54. Wednesday's field will also feature standouts G A Speed Sammy (Post 6), Bali (Post 3) and Outlaw Turn N Burn (Post 7).
Post time for H3R's opening day program on Wednesday will be at 4:00 p.m. H3R will then race on Fridays and Sundays for the rest of the season.
For more information, including a free race program for Wednesday, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.
To view the harness racing entries for Wednesday at H3R, click the following link: Wednesday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)