Gala des Champions held Saturday at H3R

A gala led by Guy Lafontaine and Sophie Mongeon, a gala that crowned the champions of the 2022 season, a gala that brought together 160 people at the Hippodrome 3R racetrack all dedicated to the success of harness racing in Quebec.

The nominees were numerous, the winners were obviously happy to see their successes recognized and applauded. This all took place Saturday (April 8) evening in Trois-Rivieres.

Here is the list of these happy winners, embellished with some photos.

• DRIVER OF THE YEAR – PASCAL BÉRUBÉ

How not to be ecstatic about the season experienced at H3R by the champion driver Pascal Bérubé! With more than a hundred victories, a more than remarkable feat with only 41 programs. Pascal had his best season ever, earning more than $1M in 2022. Let’s celebrate this true champion, a leading ambassador for the racetrack, a gentleman and a driver at its peak.

• TRAINER OF THE YEAR – SYLVAIN TREMBLAY

Incredible the progression of Sylvain Tremblay. After only three seasons as a coach, he won a 2nd consecutive title of best coach at H3R. A workaholic, a passionate, an intelligent and persevering man, we miss the qualifiers when it comes to describing all the passion and energy that this man from the North, deploys! Bravo, Sylvain for this 2nd consecutive championship!

• ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – KIWON WALDRON

  

This little man from elsewhere had made himself known in 2020 in the events of the Regional Circuit He returned in 2022 with his professional driver’s license in his pocket and he allowed himself a whole season, in discretion, humility, but also and above all the ability to win races, achieving a great breakthrough in the Top-5 at H3R. Hoping to see him again in 2023, even better equipped than last year.

• GROOM OF THE YEAR – JESSICA THÉROUX

To talk about Jessica Theroux is to evoke a family very involved in Standardbreds races of which Jessica is undoubtedly one of the most visible and dedicated. We love in the paddock the availability of this woman generally in a good mood, who counts neither her time nor her trouble in the service of horses, on a night of races. Jessica would have deserved a trophy a long time ago, but this year we finally salute her involvement.

• BREEDER OF THE YEAR – BRUNO LEPAGE

Bruno Lepage’s name has become more and more familiar over the last three or four years. If the gentleman has always kept a low profile, the GOT on the other hand have illustrated in a beautiful way his flair and his investment as a breeder. Got Charlie, Got Precious Jewells, Got Beach Body, Got Hot Mom, Got Lucky Watching and the sparkling Got Sexy Scars, winner of the Breeders’ Trophy in 2021, with lifetime earnings of over $180,000.

• TROTTER OF THE YEAR – STELLA ALPHA : 17 ( 9-2-4 ) $38,419 1.58

Owner: Alpha Stable, Trainer: Sylvain Tremblay, Driver: Pascal Bérubé

What a filly! Aside from the problems of the Breeders’ Trophy final, she was very dominant at H3R, winning no less than nine times, most often against the males with incredible determination and crazy talent until her final start of the season. This last race at Rideau when it beats the best trotters there, foreshadows another excellent season with us.

7) PACER OF THE YEAR: HISTOIRE ENCHANTEE: 19 ( 7-0-2 ) $22,440 1.55.4

Owners : Aurélie Delisle, Raymond Bouffard, Trainer-driver: Simon Delisle

Simon Delisle’s pacer took a while to get back into form, but when it happened in mid-summer, he became almost invincible, scoring six wins in seven outings starting Aug. 21. A class horse that Simon was able to keep at the maximum of his form at the right time of the season.

8) EVENT OF THE YEAR 2022 – 102 VICTORIES OF PASCAL BÉRUBÉ

An unusual feat than that achieved by Pascal Bérubé: 102 victories at H3R in a season of 41 programs, it means no lethargy and an impressive tempo of at least two victories in each program. With favourites, with underdogs, coming from behind or dictating the tempo, the champion doubled his 2021 production, an incredible achievement.

9) OWNER GROUP OF THE YEAR – ROYAL PEARL STABLE

Each visit to the victors’ circle of one or other of the proteges of this large group did not go unnoticed. Sometimes almost thirty members came there to admire the prowess of their protégés trained by Dominique Picard and led by Francis. Whether it’s Outlaw Turn & Burn or Old Buck, the group had an entire season in 2022.

Congratulations to François Carignan, the master builder of all this, to Guy Lafontaine excellent as always in such circumstances, to Sophie Mongeon up to the task in her repartee and interviews, to the technical team too, “on the tick’ as they say. All that remains is for the season to get going, Saturday, with the first qualifying, reaching towards opening day of April 30.

by Daniel Delisle, for the Quebec Jockey Club