An overheard conversation from a neighbouring table at a restaurant was the catalyst for Angélique Richer’s ambitious three-part TV series on the history of harness racing in Quebec, 'Des hommes, des chevaux et du cash', which premieres July 15 at 10 p.m. on the French specialty channel Canal Historia.
“I used to go to Blue Bonnets with my family when I was small,” said Richer, 38. “Hearing them talk about racing at the next table brought back a lot of memories. We lived in St. Henri, not far from the track. Both my parents and grandparents liked the races. Harness racing really resonated with the working class.”
The person she overheard, and introduced herself to, was standardbred owner Mikael Coté-Gagnon. “I call him my muse,” said Richer, who had just completed a well-received series on bowling in Quebec for Historia and was looking for another history-themed project to plunge into and research.
Three years and countless interviews later, her racing series is ready to go.
One 60-minute segment is devoted to fans and the racing experience, another to drivers and the third to all the other professionals who revolve around the sport. Her list of interviews includes most of the Quebec Jockey Club directors, top drivers from the past and present including Jacques Hébert and Yannick Gingras, pioneering bilingual announcer Jean Desautels and one of her favourites, longtime Montreal racing executive Raymond Lemay, now 86.
As part of her research, Richer pored through Standardbred Canada’s archives and even jogged a horse at Yves Filion’s farm.
“I didn’t want to get into the politics of racing and why it collapsed (in 2009). I’m not in the industry either, and I think that was a plus. I had no pre-judgements,” she said. “I’m interested in the people and their passion for this sport. I wanted to show the beauty of the races and the passion of those who work in it."
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)