Trois-Rivieres, QC — When the Hippodrome 3R harness racing track opens for the 2019 race season on Sunday (April 28), two-time defending leading trainer Francis Richard will have plenty of ammunition in his stable.

By his own admission, his stable has not counted as many boarders as this past winter and he currently has 23 horses in training at the farm on the south shore of Trois-Rivieres.

Nearly half of the horses (11) in Richard’s barn are 2-year-olds in training for the rich summer Quebec Sire Stakes.

Francis Richard is seeking his third straight training title at H3R. Thephotodesk.ca photo.

“I could not say that winter has not been tough at all, as it would be lying,” Richard said. “Snow, in the center of Quebec, there are as many feet and if not more than elsewhere. Nevertheless, I do not think I’m so late with the foals turning around 2:50, it’s not very fast, but it’s on the snow and for me, it’s okay so at the beginning of spring I am not one of those who are so in a hurry, who want to run their colts at all costs as soon as possible. For me, there is no point in rushing them.

“I have half a dozen 2-year-old foals from my main owner, Brian Paquet. Even a trotter by Archangel, something a little unusual for Mr. Paquet. I also have a filly by Prestidigitator that I tamed for Les Fermes SOS and that I finally bought with some owners including Jean-Louis-Laflamme and Gaston Bibeau. It is a beautiful project. As I said earlier, the important thing for me is to be ready when the stakes start. There is no point in pushing too hard. Patience is in order.”

Of the more than 20 horses that Francis trains, there are of course some 3-year-olds.

“My 3-year-olds are fine too,” Richard explained. “They roll around 2:30, still on the snow. It’s not excessively fast, but they could all do better, around 2:20 if I wanted it. They may be a bit late compared to last year, but not so much. I’d rather be there again in October or November with them than saying they’ll be ready in April!”

The Francis stable also has some older horses for the Quebec Series.

“I have three or four horses aged four and over,” Francis said. “Most ran until December. I gave them January and February on leave and they resumed training without being completely out of shape. By the way, I think giving the 6-year-olds and older ones the opportunity to race in the Quebec series this year, is a good incentive for the owners to keep their horses longer, with this new opportunity to race them here, for good money. A step in the right direction, in my opinion.”

And how does Francis Richard feel about going for his third straight training title at H3R?

“I feel the same as I did before even winning my first title,” Richard explained. “I get up in the morning and think about winning. For sure another training title would be great.

“Now I just focus on doing my job. I wish they would have a “Team Title” as I have to give a lot of credit to all my help. We are a nice group having fun working together.

“I have a nice group of babies, so far so good they’ve done all I asked them to do,” Richard said. “As for my 3-year-olds, you have to think about Guinness Panic, he was third in the 2-year-old old final, a fast horse, had a good winter, now training back pretty good, he is all class.

“I’ve got some others doing their things too. Maybe HP Napoleon, a half-brother to HP Patriot. If he puts it all together, he has the ability to be good.

“Most important is that I am looking forward for the start of the season for many things, seeing friends we barely see in winter times, watch the new whipping rules and, of course, live racing!”