Throughout North America the harness racing industry over the next two months will pay tribute to horses that will be retiring from racing, and Hippodrome 3R has a special ceremony this Sunday for one such competitor.
Rules mandate that Standardbreds must retire from pari-mutuel racing at the age of 15 on January 1. Some jurisdictions allow older horses to race but only in amateur and fair events.
In the seventh race on Sunday, Rain Gauge, age 14, starts from post two for driver Daniel Mondou of Sorel-Tracy. Mondou not only trains Rain Gauge, but co-owns the gelded son of Raining Again with Josée Ouellet.
After the race, win or lose, Rain Gauge will be brought back to the winner’s circle for a retirement ceremony.
Rain Gauge has a unique history, as often happens to horses. He was bred in Alberta and is the best of five foals from his dam, Shesfree. Diminished by injuries in recent months according to his trainer, Rain Gauge has nevertheless had an interesting career: 212 starts (41-24-29) for earnings of more than $133,000 and a record of 1.53.3 taken at Flamboro Downs at the age of 10.
Daniel and Josée have been the owners of Rain Gauge since July 2019, Daniel having at that time bought the share of his nephew Jimmy Gagnon. Two years earlier, Daniel and Jimmy had bought Gary MacDonald's pacer for $6,000. In the months leading up to December 2016 to October 2017, Rain Gauge was claimed 14 times.
"He's a very gentle, intelligent horse," says Daniel. “At home, at the stable (that of Paul Rajotte in Sorel), it is often Josée who jogs him.
“We want to keep him. He will not leave our home,” said Daniel. “We could make him a saddle horse or bring him back to the track on the Regional Circuit at 15, next year, with Josée doing the driving. We will see!”
Sunday is also Recognition Day at H3R. Among the promotions taking place will be free race programs, attendance prizes with lucky roulette, specials on beverages at the bar, the contest of the 8 Lucky Ones, among others.
The first race on Sunday is also in tribute to Ms. Nicole Martin, who was employed as a teller at H3R for more than 50 years and passed away this year from cancer. Nicole has always been appreciated by other employees as well as by customers.
Also, on the racetrack will be two Preferred pacing events, one for the horses and one for just mares.
The horses do battle in the sixth race where Like Lightning Lou goes for his sixth straight win with Jessica Turenne in the sulky taking on return winner Farmers Tan (Post 2) and Outlaw Turn N Burn (Post 1).
The mares compete in the eighth race featuring last week's return winner, Fancy Girl (Post 5), taking on Wild River Swan (Post 3) and Sieras Rose (Post 1) who is going for her third straight win.
Also of note is that the Quebec Jockey Club announced this week that they will extend the race meet at 3R one more day with closing day now set for Sunday, November 14.
For a free race program for Sunday, visit hippodrome3r.ca. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Quebec Jockey Club)