from Quebec Jockey Club

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — This Sunday (Nov. 12) will mark the end of the live harness races at the Hippodrome 3R for the 2017 season. The season started on April 23, but does not really end this Sunday as there is still the Championship Awards Banquet on Saturday (Nov. 18).

The awards dinner will honor the top horsemen, women and horses that competed throughout the season at the Hippodrome 3R. The dinner begins at 5 pm and runs throughout the night. The emcee for the affair is none other that track announcer, Guy Lafontaine. Tickets are only C$35 per person.

According to the chairman of the dinner, H3R’s Francois Carignan, there are only a few tickets remaining and people interested in attending must contact him at the racetrack immediately. The gala dinner will be held on the second floor of the casino, adjoining the racetrack.

This kind of event is essential to all segments of harness racing in Quebec. It allows horse people to fraternize after a long season, it highlights the merits of each other, it allows leaders, often to make some important announcements for the coming season.

It is fashionable to honor first the winners of the finals of the three major series presented at the racetrack during the season: the Quebec-bred Series with their four finals for horses 4-and 5-years-old, the Breeders Cup Series for 3-year-olds and the Future Stars Series for the 3-year-olds.

This will be the first time since the introduction of the gala that we will honor the winners of the Quebec Spring Series finals. This part of the gala, held before the big dinner, will end with the recognition of the only track record established this year.

Trophies will then be awarded to the most deserving where some are known because of their 2017 statistics, while others are not. The selection committee was composed of H3R’s leading administrators, Murielle Thomassin, François Carignan, Guy Lafontaine, Johanne Letourneau and Daniel Delisle.

The awards include Groom of the Year, the Owner of the Year (new category), the 4th star, an Excellence Media awards (new), Trotter of the Year (the most victories at H3R in out of the series), Pacer of the Year (same conditions), Trainer of the Year, (statistics as of Nov. 12), Driver of the Year (same conditions), and the personality of the year.

Anyone wishing to purchase the last tickets to the gala dinner Saturday (Nov. 18) must contact François Carignan at H3R at +1 819.374.6734.