Opening day for Hippodrome 3R is right around the corner on Sunday, May 1 and management at Quebec’s only pari-mutuel harness racing track is ready to greet fans with some big, positive changes.
“From our new All-Star Spring Drivers Tournament with many of the best harness drivers in the world coming to 3R, to our redesigned website, we are ready for a very exciting race season in 2016,” said 3R General Manager Vincent Trudel.
The track opens with live racing on Sunday’s at 1:30 pm starting May 1 and then adding Tuesday night racing (post time 7:00 pm) beginning on May 24.
“We have positive changes set for this season,” Trudel added. “In order to boost our simulcast signal, our track announcer, Guy LaFontaine, will be calling the races in both English and French, and we will have our changes, handicapping selections and other broadcast items in both languages as is our website.
“We have also hired a new Director of Marketing, Andre Provencher,” Trudel said. “To assist us for promotional events, marketing and simulcasting. He is already a welcomed addition to our staff.”
What Trudel is most excited about for the new season is the All-Star Drivers Tournament set for Sunday, June 5.
“We have never had such a lineup of the best drivers in North America racing here at 3R,” Trudel gleamed. “Hall of Famer John Campbell, Tim Tetrick, Yannick Gingras, Jody Jamieson, Daniel Dube, Sylvain Filion and our own Denis St. Pierre and Mario Charron. What a great tournament this will be. I am so grateful for these drivers taking the time from their busy schedules to come here to Trois-Rivieres.”
The tournament will comprise of eight races and throughout the day there will be interviews after each race and a special Meet and Greet with all the drivers starting at 12:30 pm.
“Just after we announced the tournament and the top drivers in the competition, the dining room at the track was sold out in days.” Trudel said.
The premier event of the season is the third annual revival of the Prix D’Ete for four-year-old pacers with a purse of $200,000. Set for Sunday, August 21, this year’s Prix D’Ete is headlined by the nomination of the 2015 U.S. Harness Horse of the Year, Wiggle It Jiggleit.
“We are hoping that owner George Teague and Wiggle It Jiggleit have a strong and healthy season,” said Trudel, “so that they will come here and race in the Prix D’Ete. The race has had many great horses compete in prior years and the racing fans in Quebec would love the opportunity to see this world champion race on our track.”
Other stakes at 3R this season include the Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies on Sunday, September 11 and the very popular Quebec-Bred Series for two, three and four-year-old pacers. The Quebec-Bred Series takes place from May through September depending on age with preliminary round and finals in all divisions.
Leading driver for the past two years, Denis St. Pierre, is ready for the start of the 3R racing season.
“I may be living in Ontario now,” St. Pierre said, “But I will be at 3R every time I have the chance to drive mainly in the stakes races. I did this last year and missed some programs but still was able to hang on for the driving title against Mario Charron. He nearly caught me on closing day.
“I am so honoured to be part of the upcoming driver tournament on June 5,” St. Pierre added, “What a great job the management at the Hippodrome 3R has done to have these world class drivers come to Quebec.
“It is so important for our race program at 3R to have a tournament of this top class for everyone in North America to have their eyes on,” St. Pierre said. “I can’t wait for this day as it will be great to compete again these guys. This is very positive for harness racing at 3R and important for all the horsemen and women in Quebec to support.”
Hippodrome 3R’s top drivers, trainers and owners will be back for the summer meet. Along with Denis St. Pierre and Mario Charron, Stephane Brosseau, Stephane Gendron, Pascal Berube, Jocelyn Gendron and Louis-Phillip Roy, who is currently the leading driver at Rideau Carlton Raceway, will all be back at 3R.
Top trainers returning to 3R include Maxime Velaye, who captured his first driving title last year with an impressive UDR of .443. He will be joined by Jean Tourigny, Yves Tessier, Dany Fontaine and Andre Champagne.
“It is very exciting getting ready for this Sunday,” Trudel said. “I know the race fans in Quebec are anxious for the return of live racing to Trois-Rivieres and we are ready to show everyone a good time.”
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)