The Regional Circuit crowns its champions
At 0h04, on October 13, 2025 • By Daniel Delisle/Traduction Laurent Sauvé
On this Thanksgiving Monday, the Circuit Régional du Québec brings the curtain down on its 2025 season — a festive way to celebrate another successful year, highlighted by today’s ten-race program that includes a special three-mile feature aptly named the Prix d’Automne, offering a tempting $10,000 purse. Scheduling this card on a holiday Monday was a smart move, since the day off across Québec opens the door for a large and enthusiastic crowd.
A golden opportunity for all fans
Racing on the province’s premier professional track is often an unforgettable experience for many horse owners who, except on this occasion, rarely have the chance to drive their own horses. Yes, that’s something they can do on the smaller non-professional tracks of the Regional Circuit, but doing it on a professional oval is another matter entirely.
The tradition goes back many years, when these finals were often held at the Montréal racetrack — memories that still linger fondly for many participants today.
These races are often fiercely contested, much like the Coupe François-Carignan championship, and they also present a fun challenge for handicappers. In 2024, on a fine October Saturday (October 4, to be exact), wagering reached an impressive $62,000 — so expectations are running high again this year.
The three-mile race
Despite the enticing purse for this endurance test, only six horses have entered — which still guarantees $500 to the fifth-place finisher. Why such a modest turnout? Probably because of the presence of Doc Houston, who recently crushed his rivals in the two-mile prep race, winning by more than 24 lengths — enough to discourage even the most optimistic challengers. But who knows? This time, two more laps are added, and neither he nor his opponents have ever gone this far. Naturally, Doc Houston will be the heavy favorite for trainer Yannick Marquis and driver Jessica Turenne.
A bit of history
Endurance races of two, three, or even five miles have long produced their share of standout specialists. The Trois-Rivières track record for the three-mile distance — 6:14.2 — was set on June 12, 2001, in what served as a prep for Québec’s five-mile challenge. Proof that the wheel hasn’t been reinvented! The record holder, Lifes Thrills, is surely remembered by longtime fans. Trained and driven by late Gabriel Boily, he left no doubt about his superiority, going off at odds of 4-5. Eleven horses started that race, and six completed the grueling trip.
The runner-up, Pats Landing — another endurance specialist — was driven by Gaétan Lamy for trainer Maximilien Bradette. Lola Drummond finished third for trainer Peter Lepage, who had entered no fewer than four horses.
Pascal Bérubé, then training and driving, entered two; Léo Dubé entered one. More than $10,000 was wagered on the event.
As for Lifes Thrills, he was not only an outstanding long-distance performer but also a top-class racehorse overall, earning more than $443,000 with a lifetime mark of 1:53.
Everything is set for this Monday, October 13 — first post at 1:00 p.m. Guy Lafontaine will be behind the mic, as usual. Will he also call the dog races on the schedule? We’ll find out! Manon Gravel and Jean Laroche will provide commentary. Post time: 1:00 p.m.!
