Thomas Levesque, 32, is continuing his family’s tradition in harness racing and is now set for his first start in the Prix d’Amerique.
On Sunday afternoon (Jan. 12), Levesque won the final qualifying race, the Prix de Belgique, with the 7-year-old mare Iroise de la Noe, whom he also trains.
He now has the chance to win harness racing’s biggest race for older trotters, the Prix d’Amerique, as his great-grandfather, Henri Levesque, did in 1967 with the legendary Roquepine, who won the race three consecutive times, and as his father, Pierre Levesque, did in 2007 and 2008 with Offshore Dream.
Levesque runs his own training stable and oversees 67 horses. His sister, Camille Levesque, likewise upholds the family tradition in harness racing. Camille is a highly skilled under-saddle jockey.
Iroise de la Noe, whom Levesque brought to a secure victory in the Prix de Belgique, has an atypical racing career as she has only started 25 times, but has 11 victories.
From Sept. 17, 2023, to Oct. 9, 2024, she didn’t race at all due to injuries, but has made a strong comeback and is now ready to race in the Prix d’Amerique.
From Sunday’s race, Ideal Ligneries with Jean Philippe Monclin and It’s a Dollarmaker with Matthieu Abrivard also qualified for the Prix d’Amerique, which will be held on Jan. 26.