With the finishing touches being done in removing the passing lane, adding a new HDTV broadcasting system, a new food catering company, a revamped website and new post times, the Hippodrome 3R racetrack is ready to begin its live race season on Sunday.
The track will feature 40 dates of live harness racing this Spring, Summer and Fall, primarily on Sunday afternoons, Tuesday evenings (starting May 29) and one special Thursday night race program on August 9.
The new post time for Sunday’s will be 12:50 p.m. and Tuesday evenings (plus the one Thursday card) will be 6:30 p.m. Race fans can get a free program for the Hippodrome 3R race cards at the 3R website and wagering on the program can be done via most online wagering websites.
There are nine races scheduled for opening day, including both an Invitational-Handicapped Pace and Trot. The leading driver, Stephane Brosseau, and leading trainer, Francis Richard, from last season will both be in action Sunday, looking to defend their titles.
The seventh race co-feature top pace has nine starters headlined by the morning line favourite at 5-2, American Wiggle (post 8), who is eligible to the $200,000 Prix D’Ete at H3R on August 19. He will be driven by Stephane Brosseau.
Trained and co-owned by Daniel Martin of St Barnabe Nord with Gaston Bibeau of Sorel-Tracy, American Wiggle is a gelded four-year-old son of American Ideal with a record of 1:51 taken at Vernon Downs last year. In his first two starts of the year he has raced in the top class at Rideau Carleton with little success but was race timed last week in 1:53.4.
Second choice is Highpoint Chip, a local favourite and eight-time winner last year for trainer Isabelle Binet. He will be driven by Pascal Berube from post seven and was impressive in both his qualifying wins at H3R. Other contenders include Mister Big Top (post two), D J Power (post five) and Glass Shadow (post nine).
Binet also trains the favourite in the eighth race co-feature trot as Holiday Party heads the field from post seven and will be driven by Berube.
This five-year-old gelding by Holiday Road has but one victory last year for the Groupe Holiday Party Stable of Portneuf but has come back stronger in 2018. Racing at Woodbine, Holiday Road took his lifetime mark back in February with a 1:55.2 triumph.
Starting alongside in post six is one of the toughest trotting mares in Quebec, Torches Angel for driver Stephane Brosseau and trainer Yves Tessier. The eight-year-old mare by Angus Hall has a win, second and third in her last three starts at Rideau Carleton, the victory a 1:58.2 score.
Looking for the upset victory will be Rocky Boy (post one), R Rkadabra (post four) and Tuscans Memory (post two).
To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
Track Notes: Mother Nature is not cooperating with opening day Sunday. Weather forecast is for 80 percent chance of rain throughout the day. A total of 30 four-year-old pacers have remained eligible to the $200,000 Prix D’Ete, including Little Brown Jug winner, Filibuster Hanover and Breeders Crown winner, Beckhams Z Tam. The final nomination payment is due on May 15.
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)