Trois-Rivieres, QC — Harness racing driver Steeven Genois, a Quebec native, will be back in action full-time at the Hippodrome 3R starting with opening day on Wednesday (June 24).

The Quebec Jockey Club is conducting a 40-day race meet that will go until early November, racing primarily on Fridays (4 p.m.) and Sundays (1 p.m.). The special Wednesday card is also National Quebec Day.

Steeven Genois will be back in action full-time at the Hippodrome 3R. Photo courtesy of Steeven Genois.

The 32-year-old reinsman from Levis, Quebec, Genois had a banner year competing at Saratoga in upstate New York in 2019. He scored 78 wins with a personal record of more than $600,000 in purse earnings with the horses he drove.

Off to a slow start at Saratoga at the beginning of 2020, Genois made a tough decision to return to Quebec after the start of the pandemic in North America.

“I was there (Saratoga) at the start of the season,” explained Genois, “but because of the COVID-19 I came home to Quebec until the border reopens. Now I have changed my mind and intend to stay in Quebec for the summer.”

Genois will be competing in four of the eight races on opening day at H3R. And yes, race fans, it’s Steeve, not Steve. He explained that his mom liked the name but wanted it different for her son.

“It is nice to be back home,” Genois said, “and to be with my friends. Actually, the two driving colonies, H3R and Saratoga, are very similar. Excellent competition at both tracks. If I am asked, I will also go and drive at Rideau Carleton Raceway too. Once the H3R season is over I will most likely go back to Saratoga.”

Genois first started driving in Quebec back in 2007 and made the choice to drive at Saratoga in 2018. It took him a while to get into the swing of things at that track and by 2019 he was a sought-after driver by trainers at Saratoga.

Ready to compete on opening day at H3R, Genois noted that it will be different without race fans in the stands.

“I am just very happy that racing has returned in Quebec,” Genois noted. “It will be different going on the track to drive without any race fans. At H3R the fans are usually right on the fence, watching and cheering, and they usually get a lot of fans to the races. Now it will be very quiet until race fans are allowed to attend again.”

Trainer Francis Richard, who will be trying for his fourth straight training title at H3R, has five starters going to post on opening day.

“I think it will be strange,” said Richard about having live racing without any fans watching. “Sort of like the qualifying races we have but for purse money. It will be a little weird I think.”

The leading driver at H3R, Stephane Gendron, who is also going for his fourth straight driving title, is not competing on opening day and is expected to start defending his driving title on Sunday’s race program.

There is a Preferred Pace headlining the Wednesday program in the seventh race. Featured is Sports Authority (post two), who was second last week at Rideau Carleton in the Preferred Pace, missing by a half-length for driver Tyler Jones, timed in 1:54. Also in the field are standouts G A Speed Sammy (post six); Bali (post three) and Outlaw Turn N Burn (post seven).

Post time for the opening day program is 4 p.m. Wednesday. Then H3R races Fridays and Sundays for the rest of the season.

For more information, including a free race program for Wednesday, visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.