by Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Riveres, PQ —Harness racing fans attending live or wagering via off-track-betting and on the Internet for the opening day 2017 program Sunday (April 23) at the Hippodrome 3R were met with a surprise as the only racetrack in Quebec has done away with show wagering. Hippodrome 3R became only the second racetrack in North America and the first in Canada to do away with show wagering. Pompano Park did it for a short period back in 2004.

Photo courtesy of Quebec Jockey Club

Solid Performance captures the swiftest mile of the day (1:56.2) at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday.

Track management cited that over the past years there was little wagering done in the show pools and elected to end the wager in 2017. Doing away with show wagering also prevents possible ‘bridge jumpers”, people who risk large show wagers to make the mandatory five-cent payout for a $1.00 wager.

Sunny skies greeted fans and horsemen and the very first race of the year put the photo finish camera to work as Norvena Hanover and driver Stephane Brosseau barely held off two moves by Lucies Pet and driver Richard Simard, winning by a scant nose and paying $7.30 to win.

The fastest mile on the day went to Solid Performance ($5.00) and veteran driver Gaetan Lamy, who captured the eighth race Open Pace in 1:56.2.

Bazinga Brad (Stephane Gendron) was first on the lead from post seven to a quick opening quarter in :27.3 and then backed it down to the half-mile marker in :58.3. But Lamy had Solid Performance on the move first-over and they were able to grind it out and take the lead from Bazinga Brad at the three-quarters in 1:27.2 before scoring an easy triumph.

It was the first win in 10 starts for Solid Performance, an 8-year-old gelding by Armbro Deuce, who is owned and trained by Marc Andre Cormier.

In the fifth race Open Trot, Torches Angel and driver Pierre Luc Roy were able to grind it out first-over against race leader Rocky Boy (Marc Bellanger) and then hold off Caroluzzo (Stephane Gendron) to win in 2:02.2.

It was the third win this year for Torches Angel, a seven-year-old gelding by Angus Hall, trained by Yves Tessier and owned by Francois Morin of Beauceville, paying $3.70 to win.

TRACK NOTES: Driver Stephane Gendron wasted little time posting his first win of the new race meet, winning the second race pace Sunday with Reposession and is now just 12 wins away from scoring his 4,000th career win.

Stephane Brosseau had the hot hands of all the drivers on the day, winning three races. Last year’s leading trainer at H3R, Yves Tessier, picked up right where he left off last season, on top of the training standings with two wins from his stable.

Live racing resumes next Sunday, post time 12:50 p.m. Visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com for more information.