It will be a homecoming -- literally -- for brothers Simon and Rene Allard when Quebec's regional racing circuit makes its first stop Sunday at their family farm in the village of Saint Esprit, northeast of Montreal
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"They wouldn't want to miss the day for all the gold in the world," said their mother, Danielle Allard. "They race at the biggest tracks in North America now but coming back, for a day, to where it all began, is important to them."
Ontario-based Rene currently is leading trainer by wins in Canada. Simon is now a regular driver at The Meadowlands.
Their roles Sunday will be primarily as boosters and spectators of activities that will include music, dance, ponies and 11 standardbred races. None of Rene's horses are scheduled to race. Simon has a single drive on the program, in the fourth race.
The regional circuit will be the focus of racing activity in the province through the end of the month, as Hippodrome de Quebec is now dark until Sept. 3.
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Saint Esprit.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)