Quebec regional fair circuit kicks off

The Quebec harness racing fair circuit, the Circuit Regional des Courses de Chevaux du Quebec, began its season on Saturday (Jun. 23) with an eight-race card at St-Joseph-de-Lepage.

Jean-Marc Roy struck first in the ATAQ Amateur Drivers’ Challenge (Challenge des Conductrices Amateures), cruising behind D J Power (Major In Art) to a five-length victory in 1:58.4. Roy also owns and trains the 12-year-old gelding, who is now 45-for-205 lifetime with $153,148 in earnings.

Nancy Auger then took the first leg of the Drivers’ Challenge (Challenge des Conducteurs) in a quarter-length victory with Mach Play (Shadow Play) over Mister Truth and Arianne Girard in 2:02.2 Betimontheriver (Guylaine Gagnon) was a length further back in third. It was Auger’s first drive of the season. She won seven-of-13 in 2023. She trains Mach Play, who has earned $37,683 and won 11 of 89 starts, for owner Joel Gagnon.

The next stop on the Quebec fair circuit is Hippodrome de Nouvelle in Nouvelle, Que. The track will host cards on back-to-back Saturdays, beginning with Jul. 15.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink