Of the two Gaudreault brothers involved in harness racing, Maxim and Charles, Maxim is certainly the least well known.
The oldest member of the family, Maxim, 30, works full time for the family business, as associate foreman in steel structures, while maintaining his passion for horses and harness racing. He also diligently takes care of his little family, which already has two toddlers.
We do not have to go back in history to know that to date the locality of Bas-du-Fleuve has been the starting point for great careers like that of Pascal Bérubé or that of the Roy brothers.
"I really like racing, horses," said Maxim. “The barrier thrill, the competition, the camaraderie that also reigns on the Regional Fair Circuit in particular, these are all reasons for me to love driving in races.
Top row, left to right: Pierre-Paul Naud, Ghislain Paquet, Maxim Gaudreault, Charles Gaudreault. Front, kneeling: Steeven Genois and-Louis-Philippe Roy.
"I grew up in Mont-Joli and as far as I can remember, Louis-Philippe Roy and I were friends,” Maxim recalled. “We played minor league hockey together, and when the hockey season ended, we headed to the golf club. His parents or mine drove us and the two families were friends.
“One day,” Maxim said. “Louis-Philippe's father picked up an old gray racing mare (mother by Laag), named Silverdust. The idea was to make her a saddle horse, but when we learned that she had raced in the past, we started training her. Obviously, it was not easy, but we managed to get it down to 2:15. From there, our parents started buying horses and we were addicted to racing.
"It’s not because he’s my friend,” Maxim said. “but this LPR is a gifted one, whatever the sporting discipline: hockey, golf, even table tennis, he excelled and always excels in everything. He was always gifted in his studies which led him to a university degree. He chose accounting, he might as well have chosen medicine or IT. His talent is unlimited.
“I am not surprised at the heights he has already achieved in horse racing,” Maxim added. “Not surprised but still impressed that a little guy from here is a Canadian champion, and twice rather than once!
"The horses I have loved the most so far,” Maxim said. “I see two. A little mare named Pepite Dor ... we paid for her $1,500 and she won over $30,000 for us. And the other good first horse from our stable, Pan Larceny, which amateurs have often seen at 3R. Among other things, Pepite Dor allowed me to take my driving test. These are little things that cannot be forgotten."
With a short vacation from construction work, Maxim has decided to get back in the race bike and drive in some races at Hippodrome 3R.
“We are on vacation for two weeks,” Maxim explained. “It will undoubtedly be for me the only opportunities this year to drive in races. That’s why I’ll be at 3R on Sunday to drive. “Professional racing is not the Regional Fair Circuit, Maxim explained. “People are more competitive, harder if you will, especially for outsiders like me. But I'm here to have fun: I love to win, that's for sure, but I don't want to do it by harming anyone. It’s not my livelihood unlike others, so I can understand them to be more serious.”
Fans are invited this Sunday to attend the Trois-Rivières races at 1:00 p.m. sharp. The usual platforms of HPI or RTN are there to make this possible at home or in the off-track betting locations of Quebec, which have resumed their activities.
Maxim will drive in three races: at the third race with Heaven For Sure, the fourth race aboard Whitemountain Nemo and finally in the seventh race with Twice An Angel. He's no stranger to the winner's circle with 79 victories in 570 races. He is not an apprentice. And above all, in the eyes of his many friends, he is a damn good guy.
For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca. To view the entries for Sunday's card, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R
(with files from the Quebec Jockey Club)