All-age trotting record set at Hippodrome 3R

The fastest trotting mile ever in the history of the Hippodrome 3R (H3R) in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec was set Friday afternoon (Sept. 13) as Royalty Beer (Royalty For Life) with driver Pascal Berube won the feature harness racing event in a romp in 1:54.

It tied the lifetime mark for Royalty Beer, a five-year-old gelding, but totally erased the previous record of 1:56 by a full two seconds. Both Pablo Angus (2008) and Michelangelo (2014) co-held the record.

The 7^th race $6,500 trot for Quebec-Breds saw Royalty Beer and Berube leave from post six and take command of the field by the opening quarter mile in :29.1 with La Bromontoise (Jerome Lombart) sitting second.

By the half mile in :57.3, Royalty Beer began separation from the rest of the field, pulling away to a six-length lead by the three-quarters in 1:25.2.

Berube then urged his trotter on, and Royalty Beer was up to the task, winning in a romp by 12 and three-quarter lengths in 1:54, the last quarter in :28.3. Only For Justice (Francis Picard) was second with Frido PV (Denis St Pierre) third.

ROYALTY BEER REPLAY

Owned and trained by Jean-Francois Maguire and bred by the Maquire Stable of Sainte-Marie, Que., it was the second straight win and fourth victory of the year for Royalty Beer.

In the 9^th race trot, A R Hercule (Rose Run Hooligan) and owner-trainer-driver Jean-Paul J Rousse scored the second highest win payoff of the season, winning in 2:01.2 by a nose at odds of 43-1, paying $88.40 to win.

Track Notes: Robert Shepherd had the hot hands at H3R Friday with a driving triple and Pascal Berube had a driving double. Live racing resumes at H3R this Sunday (Sept. 15) with a ten-race program starting at 12:00 noon. Sunday is National Caretaker Appreciation Day at H3R sponsored by Standardbred Canada and the Quebec Jockey Club. For more information and free race programs, visit here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club