U2 Set To Rock Quebec Track

U2-Hippodrome-de-Montreal.jpg
Published: July 6, 2011 10:32 am EDT

Hippodrome de Montreal will welcome the largest crowds in its 100-year-plus history this weekend

.

Unfortunately, it won't be for a horse race.

The grounds of the shuttered racetrack are now occupied by a massive temporary stage and bleachers for open-air concerts by Irish rock band U2, expected to draw crowds of 80,000 both Friday and Saturday.

The largest previous crowd at the track was about 42,000.

Mike MacCormac remembers it well.

It was the 1960s and he was director of racing at the track formerly known as Blue Bonnets.

"We had a special promotion that night: hot dogs for a nickel, glasses of beer for 10 cents. We were supposed to open at 6 but by 3:30, there were already long lines, so we opened early. It was incredibly hot, probably 95 F., and they had us wearing period costumes. Mine was a grey top-hat and tails outfit made of pure wool; I was so overheated I couldn't wait to get out of it."

MacCormac recalls that the late Joe O'Brien and his great mare Fresh Yankee raced, and won, that night.

"I remember Joe in the winner's circle, looking at the large crowd, and saying with a straight face, 'I never realized Fresh Yankee was so popular in Montreal.'"

(A Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)

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