Champions honored from 2021 H3R season

It was in a warm and febrile atmosphere that the Gala des Champions took place Saturday (April 16) at the Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. The director of operations, François Carignan, had not neglected anything to make this event a great success.  Celebrations that coincided with the unofficial start of activities for a new harness racing season, could not have come at a better time.

Brilliantly hosted by Guy Lafontaine, the evening kept its promises: full house, winners all present, festive dinner and entertainment at the height, as has become a habit at H3R.

Alpha Stable in great honours

No doubt, if there were to be a winner among the winners, Sylvain Tremblay’s Écurie Alpha, would win this title: Sylvain was named trainer of the year, breeder of the year, his groom Emma Bouchard also won in her category, not to mention Stella Alpha’s successes at the Coupe de l’Avenir. A great year, made of work and perseverance that this Gala has come to confirm. We have not often seen such a meteoric progression when we consider that five years ago, Sylvain Tremblay was still a complete stranger in the industry.

It should also be noted with interest that in recent years, new figures have managed to impose themselves quickly. In addition to Sylvain, one cannot help but think of a Denitza Petrova or a Cassandra Lecourt. It has become almost common to see successful careers emerge before our eyes.

The winners of the different categories

Driver of the Year: Pascal Bérubé

What a great year Pascal had at H3R. 1st for victories, 1st for starts, 1st for money raised and 1st also for the average URS. He dominated in all categories. All these statistics are reminiscent of the multiple championships he won over the years at the Hippodrome de Québec and also in Trois-Rivières in the early 2000s.

Trainer of the Year: Sylvain Tremblay

What progress in such a short time! Sylvain and the Alpha Team have shone in 2021 at H3R for the number of victories not to mention that his horses, only with us have crossed the $100,000 mark. Not so bad for a man who wasn’t even in the horses five years ago! His protégés have kept an average of more than .400, which is really not trivial!

Rookie of the Year: Jessica Turenne

A super-fast progression, to say the least, of Jessica’s debut on the sulky. Serge and Linda’s daughter had this innate talent and it showed from her first performances in the race. Fifteen victories were already enough to attract the attention of more and more trainers to entrust him with the guides. Promised a bright future, this Jessica.

Groom of the Year: Emma Bouchard

Still unknown two years ago, this young woman of 19 years, all small and delicate, is now a well-known figure in the paddock. Alongside Sylvain Tremblay, she takes good care of the horses in the stable on race days and has often been found in the winner’s circle this year. One of the essential elements of the success of the Alpha team.

Breeder of the Year: Sylvain Tremblay

Always impressive to consult the list of Sylvain Tremblay’s successes as a breeder. In three years, the Alpha Stable quickly became synonymous with success and quality. Many breeders, after many years, dream of such successes. The Future Cup Series with Stella and quality participants in Platinum, Archimed, Ritchie, Titaniium, all these names have become symbols of success from the Alpha Stable.

Trotter of the Year: XOXO

Jérôme Lombart’s 3-year-old second-hand filly had a whole year: seven wins in sixteen starts and winnings of more than $27,000. She unfortunately broke her pace in the final but that should not make us forget how consistent she was throughout the 2021 campaign. Jérôme is a master of bringing the trotters he raises to the track, and it is all in his honor

Pacer of the Year: DGs De Vito

This devil of a little horse will have amazed more than one during the last year at H3R. His cookie cutter ends became his trademark. Never count him for beaten, to say the least. Raised, trained by the Fortin Surprenant couple, he was driven in the race by their nephew Jonathan Lachance and he won seven times a month in 17 starts.

Owner of the Year: Jean Fontaine

For more than fifty years, Jean Fontaine has been an owner who has never wavered, and he is still in 2021, a gentleman who pays training bills and invests in the purchase of racehorses. The Quebec Jockey Club wants to pay tribute to someone like there are few in 2021. We will have seen him this year as owner of Bali and Kinnder Grace among others.

Family of the Year: Gagnon Family

We had the opportunity to tell their story with the three Gagnon brothers, Sylvain, Joel and Stéphane, their sons too. People from the ‘pony’ industry who do not seem to want to dry up. How good it is to see all these relatively new figures indulging in the pleasure of racing and training ‘big horses’ as they say. Congratulations to all this beautiful family involved and whose great successes should not be long in coming.

And now in a few weeks to the 2022 harness racing season at the Hippodrome 3R.

by Daniel Delisle, for the Quebec Jockey Club