Trois-Rivieres, QC — The Quebec Jockey Club management has announced that the drivers will go ‘whipless’ in all the harness races held at the Hippodrome 3R on Nov. 18 and Nov. 25.

“This is an experiment of parimutuel racing without whips,” said Director of Racing Murielle Thomassin. “There will be absolutely no whips allowed on the track these two special days.

“There is no surprise that this year the population is tired of cruelty on animals. The Quebec Jockey Club is ready to change with the society and evolve in a sport where the horse is our pride and joy. We must respect and protect them at all cost.”

Over the past ten years a few tracks, Plainridge Park and Indiana Downs, have experimented with different forms of ‘whipless’ racing. The biggest movement was announced in 2016 when Harness Racing Australia voluntarily decided to phase out and ban the whip. Not just in races — but on training tracks and stables, too.

“We will see how the racing goes these two days without whips,” Thomassin said. “We will study the races themselves and the wagering patterns too and maybe come up with some changes for the 2019 harness racing season in Quebec.”

Track Notes: Live racing at H3R gets underway Sunday at 12:50 p.m. Featured will be both a Preferered Trot (race three) and a Preferred Pace (race eight). For more information and to get a free race program, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.