$200,000 Prix d’Ete returning to Hippodrome 3R

The Quebec Jockey Club is proud to announce that their signature race, the Prix d’Ete, will return at the Hippodrome 3R for their 2024 race season with a purse of $200,000(C) for four-year-old pacers plus a $50,000(C) consolation race if 14 or more horses enter.

The race has not been held since 2019 due to Covid restrictions followed by reductions in stakes events. The race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, August 18, 2024.

The last Prix d’Ete at H3R saw This Is The Plan (Somebeachsomewhere) and driver Daniel Dube set the Canadian half mile record and all-age track record with a 1:49.1 triumph on Sunday, August 18. 2019.

The Prix D’Ete was the most prestigious race in all of Canada from 1966 through 1992. World champions Bret Hanover, Albatross, Niatross, Hot Hitter, Cam Fella, On The Road Again, Ralph Hanover, Matt’s Scooter and a host of other top pacers have won the Prix D’Ete when it was an open event held primarily at Blue Bonnets Raceway in Montreal.

To be eligible to the race, owners and trainers must make the first stakes payment by March 15, 2024. In order for the race to take place, there will have to be six different entries, a very important specification since we have seen in past years multiple entries that unfortunately reduce the wagering.

It will be interesting to examine potential candidates for this prestigious race. Several of the big names in the 3-year-olds have been retired from stud in recent months, which will open up the race to more contenders and provide another excellent show.

Will Stockade Seelster, a winner of more than $1.5M, be there?  He has all the trappings of a candidate, being trained by Dr. Ian Moore, driven by James MacDonald and Ontarian-owned. Why Not Now, a regular half-mile winner could also show up. Ervin Hanover of the Burke stable, who has competed in every edition to date, could also be there.

It should also be noted that mares can also participate. There has never been a mare in the Prix d’Ete, but this year’s contenders contain two extraordinary ones in Twin B Joe Fresh and Sylvia Hanover. If these two mares were in the race, it would be great.

Stakes conditions for the Prix d’Ete can be found by clicking here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club