The Quebec Regional Fair Circuit races took place at Hippodrome 3R on Saturday afternoon (July 13), with new faces and voices taking centre stage at the Trois-Rivieres-based half-mile oval.
The fairs are where many of the two-year-old pacers and trotters start their career and nearly half of the 13 races Saturday were for the “babies”.
The fairs are also where the young men and women in Quebec get their first starts as drivers and trainers. Competing on Saturday were Samuel Fillion, Steven Gagnon, Jimmy Gagnon and Christian Gagnon. Also, on the fair circuit are Michel Berube, Mathieu Desrochers, Kevin Montmarquette, and Michel Lefebvre, all hopefully to become professionals at the races.
There was also a young announcer, 15-year-old Louis Desrochers of Warwick, who called the second race trot and did a superb job, calling the race in both French and some English.
One newcomer to Canada traveled all the way from Bermuda for his first pari-mutuel drive and he won. Kiwon Waldron, age 19, hails from Hamilton, Bermuda where he has been driving Standardbred ponies.
In the third race he was able to lead from start to finish in 2:05.4 with the pacer Shemaksmefelunreal, who is sired by Sunshine Beach from the No Pan Intended mare, Dreamfair Orchid. She is trained by Michel Allard and owned by Rene Allard of Matamoras, Penn.
“I watched Kiwon drive last winter when I was in Bermuda,” Rene Allard said. “I saw him win the free-for-all race there. He is a natural and I saw good talent in him and asked him to come to Quebec this summer and get more experience driving Standardbreds. He has a very bright future.”
Waldron made it a driver-trainer double with Michel Allard, winning the 8th race pace with Jeffs Journey in 1:59.2.
Other two-year-old winners on the program were the trotter Major Bay (Amigo Hall – B Cor Bonita) in 2:08 for driver David Pilon and trainer Francis Richard; the pacer Saloon Magic (Hes Watching – Ok Bravo) in 2:05 for driver Stephane Brosseau and trainer Marc Andre Simoneau; a trot to the filly Muscle Beauty (Muscle Mass – Ocean Mist Beauty) for driver Pascal Berube and trainer Serge Nadeau in 2:09.1.
The final two-year-old race was the fastest of the day. Sophies Destiny, a daughter of Delmarvalous – Tinas Bliss, cut all the fractions and won by a dozen lengths in 2:03.2. She was driven by Stephane Brosseau, who trains the filly.
There was also an exhibition Monte (under saddle) trot race held with four contestants. The winner was R Rkadabra with jockey Anne-Marie Demers in 2:06.2 over Marie-Eve Jean riding Victorycari.
In the tenth race, a track record was set as the race for pacers was only a half-mile long. Allstar Seelster ($3.30) and driver Stephane Brosseau led from start to finish, parking out Too Much Duncan (Pierre Luc Roy) to a :26.3 first quarter. Allstar Seelster went on to win by four open lengths in :55.1. The world record is :54.2.
The highest win price of the season was set in the ninth race pace when driver Eric Beausoleil upset the field with Flashjack Soleil at odds of 36-1. They won the race in 2:00 and paid $74.20 to win.
Stephane Brosseau led all drivers with three wins. There were three trainers, Francis Richard, Michel Allard and Marc Andrea Simoneau, who each had two winners from their stable.
Throughout the afternoon on Saturday, fans were treated to special drawings, rides in a double-seat sulky and rides in the starting gate. There was also free balloon art and face painting for the children.
The Festival of Racing continues on Sunday. First race post time is 1:00 pm. For more info on Sunday's card, click here.
To view the results from the Saturday card of harness racing at 3R, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)