Quebec Regional Circuit at H3R on Saturday

This week there is a change of racing dates and the Hippodrome 3R will not race on Friday but will have a special Saturday card featuring the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit starting at 1:00 pm.

This will be the 38th season of racing since the launch of the circuit dating back to 1983. The starting positions were drawn on Tuesday and nearly a hundred horses were registered. Ten races await racing fans at H3R.

It is a Paul-André Lavigne, who is always optimistic, that it was possible to have at the end of the line this week, a president of the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit who has been in office for almost thirty years and who devotes himself to the cause with the same enthusiasm and the same determination since he first started.

“I am not getting any younger,” Lavigne said. “But the pleasure is always the same, despite the many obstacles that have littered the road since the beginning of the pandemic. 2020 was a different year and in light of what I can see today, 2021 will be of the same type with some light at the end of the tunnel.

“One of the goals of the Regional Circuit is to broadcast the races throughout the region,” Lavigne explained. “In 2020, we mainly raced at H3R with only one race meet in the provinces during the program presented at Ferme 4G in St-Joseph-de-Lepage. This year, what I can confirm is that we will have two programs at H3R, one this week and the other next week on June 19. In July, we should still be racing at Ferme 4G and in August at St-Aimé-des-Lacs.

“We are aiming for three other programmes,” Lavigne added. “But at the moment it is too early to certify  everything. We have to wait for confirmation from Public Health and the Quebec Jockey Club. One thing is certain: if we have the green light, we will be ready.”

During the presentation of the races of the Regional Fair Circuit, some rules of racing of the professional tracks fall to the wayside.

For example, it is not necessary for the horses to be qualified; on the contrary, a good race at the Regional Circuit when presented at H3R, can become a validated qualification.

The age limit for horses of 14 years old also does not apply. In addition, any holder of a driver’s license A,B,C and D can compete in the fair racing. For some owners and others in the industry, this is a golden opportunity to drive their own horse(s).

This week’s program will feature 17 two-year-old’s making their first purse start both on the trot and pace. This is a great opportunity for racing fans to see new drivers, trainers and horses taking their first serious test of participation that may lead towards their professional careers both human and equine.

Many will tell you, it is one of the most beautiful moments of the season, a moment awaited by breeders for more than two years between the conception of their foals and their first race.

For horse people and perhaps also for the drivers and trainers, the challenges are eagerly awaited. We forget the time of a race and we leave all the excitement to the drivers, trainers, caretaker and harness racing lovers.

This is the first meeting of this weekend, while regular races will be held as usual, Sunday, 12:30 pm. In both cases, wagering is possible on HPI, Twin Spires and other betting outlets.

Racing fans are not allowed at the track so far this season because of the pandemic. This does not stop them from parking their cars outside the fence in the backstretch, taking out their lawn chairs and coolers and enjoying the races from the opposite side of the track.

At times there can be nearly 100 cars parked there as the racing fans in Quebec sorely miss not being able to come to the track and watch, wager and root for their favorite drivers and horses.

Perhaps that can change before the end of the race season in 2021. We can only hope so.

Remember, first race post time Saturday is 1:00 pm and on Sunday at 12:30 pm. For a free race program, visit www.hippodrome3r.ca.