This Sunday (Oct. 6) six two-year-old pacing fillies will battle it out at Hippodrome 3R in the annual Lucien Bombardier Stakes, going for a purse of $29,400.
One of the "pioneers" of horse racing in Canada, but especially Quebec, Lucien Bombardier devoted his entire life to the harness racing industry. Born and raised near Bedford, Que., Bombardier retired in 1992 after 16 years on the board of directors of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society.
The following year, at age 86, Bombardier became the first honorary director of the CSHS. His appointment by the board of directors in January 1993 was in recognition of achievement and contribution to the Society and the Standardbred industry.
Bombardier was also honored in 1985 when he was recognized for his life-long devotion to the industry when he was the recipient of the Society's General Achievement Award for his excellence, leadership and contribution to the breeding industry and by his election into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame the following year.
Bombardier started training and driving harness horses at agricultural fair meetings in Quebec at an early age. In the early 1940s he left a business career to open a large racing stable at Richelieu Park in Montreal and in 1953 he accepted an executive position with Blue Bonnets, which then became the Hippodrome de Montreal.
During 25 years in racetrack management he played a role in developing many changes and innovations that helped make harness racing a major sport industry and earned him an enviable reputation on both sides of the border. He also served as a director of Harness Tracks of America and the Canadian Trotting Association.
At age 68 Bombardier retired from Blue Bonnets and embarked upon a new career when he became an executive with Angus Farms in Bedford, Que., one of the province's most successful breeding establishments. Bombardier died in 1995 and was honoured each year at Hippodrome de Montreal with the running of the Lucien Bombardier Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies.
With sponsorship from Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club, Hippodrome 3R revived the stakes race in 2011.
The seventh race Sunday is the Lucien Bombardier Pace and the morning line favourite is Bettors Delight filly Hit By A Bus, who starts from post six for trainer/driver and Canadian Hall of Famer, Yves Filion.
Hit By A Bus has but one win this year, and that was an impressive 1:54.3 victory at Woodbine Mohawk Park. She had been racing in the Ontario Grassroots and is making her first appearance at Hippodrome 3R for owners Brian Paquet, Thomas Kyron and Bayama Farms.
The hometown favourite is Acaena De Chakrika in post five for driver Pascal Berube. This daughter of Sunshine Beach was the Future Stars Series Champion, leading from start to finish in the final in 2:00.2.
Trained by Daniel Martin for owner/breeder Diane Lepine of Quebec City, Acaena De Chakrika has yet to finish off the board in her eight starts this year with two wins, two seconds and four third place finishes.
Two other contenders, Tuggingoncredit (post one) and Mia Culpa (post four) are making their 3R debut, and rounding out the field are Sophies Destiny (post two) and SOS Cupcake (post three).
First post time is 1:00 p.m. A free race program is available at quebecjockeyclub.com. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)