All-age trotting record set at Hippodrome 3R
At 0h33, on September 14, 2024 • By STEVE WOLF, Quebec Jockey Club
The fastest trotting mile ever in the history of the Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec was set Friday afternoon (Sept. 13) as Royalty Beer (Royalty For Life) with driver Pascal Berube won the feature event in a romp in 1:54.
It tied the lifetime mark for Royalty Beer, a five-year-old gelding, but totally erased the previous record of 1:56 by a full two seconds. Both Pablo Angus (2008) and Michelangelo (2014) co-held the record.
The 7th race $6,500 trot for Quebec-Breds saw Royalty Beer and Berube leave from post six and take command of the field by the opening quarter mile in :29.1 with La Bromontoise (Jerome Lombart) sitting second.
By the half mile in :57.3, Royalty Beer began separation from the rest of the field, pulling away to a six-length lead by the three-quarters in 1:25.2.
Berube then urged his trotter on and Royalty Beer was up to the task, winning in a romp by 12 and three-quarter lengths in 1:54, the last quarter in :28.3. Only For Justice (Francis Picard) was second with Frido PV (Denis St Pierre) third.
Owned and trained by Jean-Francois Maguire and bred by the Maquire Stable of Sainte-Marie, Que., it was the second straight win and fourth victory of the year for Royalty Beer.
In the 9th race trot, A R Hercule (Rose Run Hooligan) and owner-trainer-driver Jean-Paul J Rousse scored the second highest win payoff of the season, winning in 2:01.2 at odds of 43-1, paying $88.40 to win.
Track Notes: Robert Shepherd had the hot hands at H3R Friday with a driving triple and Pascal Berube had a driving double. Live racing resumes at H3R this Sunday (Sept. 15) with a ten-race program starting at 12:00 noon. Sunday is National Caretaker Appreciation Day at H3R sponsored by Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club.
