by Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — On closing day, Sunday (Nov. 13), the staff and management at the Hippodrome 3R will be honoring two harness racing “war horses” who will be retiring from racing. They are the trotter Pablo Angus and the pacer Charlotte’s Tazman.

the photodesk.ca photo

Pablo Angus in a previous victory at Hippodrome 3R.

It is mandatory in North American harness racing that all horses must retire from racing when they turn age 15. All horses celebrate their “official” birthday on Jan. 1 each year. Both of the upcoming “retirees” are racing this Sunday (Oct. 16) at the Hippodrome 3R.

Pablo Angus starts from post six in the ninth race trot. This longtime veteran of the racing wars is sired by Fortuna Winner and is out of the Garland Lobell mare Heliante. He was bred by the Fermes Angus Farms and is owned by Mario Bourgea.

He is one of the best trotters ever bred in Quebec. A career winner of C$818,000, Pablo Angus give true meaning to the phrase “war horse” as he has raced every year of his career. The only season he did not win a race was in 2011 when he made just one start.

At age two, three and four, Pablo Angus was a major stakes winner, mainly at his home track, the Hippodrome de Montreal, where as a 4-year-old he took his lifetime mark of 1:53.2. At ages five, six and seven he traveled to New York where he won in the Open events numerous times at both Yonkers and Saratoga Raceways.

In the past few years, Pablo Angus has remained in Quebec and still is competitive both at 3R and on the Quebec Fair Circuit.

Trained by Gerald Woodberry and driven by Pascal Berube, Pablo Angus is a mild 4-1 odds in his race on Sunday. The old veteran could still show his heels to his much younger rivals and might surprise on Sunday.

Charlotte’s Tazman has not had as big a career at the races as Pablo Angus has. The gelded son of Largo out of the Big Towner mare, Tasmania Hanover, does boast career earnings of over C$112,000 and has a lifetime mark of 1:53.4. He was bred by Alfred Moeller and is owned by Daniel Cochrane.

Charlotte’s Tazman raced every year but 2011 during his career. He has ground it out every season and took his record as a 3-year-old, winning eight times that year in his lone season in the USA at Rockingham Park. He raced most of his career in Canada.

Trained by Michel Grenier and with Jonathan Lachance in the sulky on Sunday, Charlotte’s Tazman has the difficult task of starting from the far outside in post eight in the second race. He, like Pablo Angus, is listed at odds of 4-1 and could be a factor in the race if he can overcome the outside post position.

It is befitting that 3R will have special retirement ceremonies for these veterans of harness racing on closing day.

Beach Runner A M will have a shot at becoming the horse with the most wins of the season at 3R Sunday when he goes from post five in the 10th race. He will be driven by Mario Charron for trainer Alain Martin.

Post time Sunday at 3R is 1:30 p.m. For a free race program, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.