Gendron nips Roy in 3R Drivers Tournament

TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec – From the photo finish in the first heat of the Hippodrome 3R's 4th annual Drivers Tournament Sunday, to the final deciding heat, the action was fast, furious and muddy throughout the day.

When the dust (actually mud as it rained hard prior to the races) settled, harness driver Stephane Gendron squeaked by Louis-Philippe Roy to capture the tournament in the final heat of the eight races of the contest by just one point, 170 to 169.

Gendron had won three of the eight races while Roy captured two heats, but it was a fourth place finish in the final race of the competition that sealed the victory for Gendron.

Roy, who was driving the 3-4 race favorite, Cliff Drummond, could not get the pacer up to the starting gate and got away in ninth place and was unable to make up enough ground during the race and finished sixth. Gendron was fourth with Johnny Day. If Roy had finished once position better in the last race he would have won the tournament.

"This was the first time I have ever won a driving tournament," said Stephane Gendron. "It was very exciting today. When you are in a tournament you always have a chance to win, it's the reason why you are there. If you are not in the tournament you have no chance.

"I was never sure that I would win today even after I won three of the races," Gendron said. "I did not think my horse in the last heat (Johnny Day) was good enough to get any points but he raced very well and helped me win the tournament."

Finishing third in the competition was Mario Charron with 99 points, nipping Robert Shepherd with 98 points. Gaetan Lamy was a late substitute for Simon Allard.

Nearly all of the eight races in the tournament saw early dogfights, three-wide moves and exciting stretch drives. The very first race saw Robert Shepherd with Pop Goes Theweasel take an early lead in the tournament with a long nose victory over Tiguan Seelster and driver Mario Charron.

Other drivers that won heats of the tournament were Gaetan Lamy and Jocelyn Gendron.

3R Drivers Tournament Point Standings

1st Stephane Gendron 170

2nd Louis-Phillipe Roy 169

3rd Mario Charron 99

4th Robert Shepherd 98

5th Jocelyn Gendron 83

6th Denis St Pierre 74

7th Gaetan Lamy 69

8th Pascal Berube 36

9th Stephane Brosseau 30

Live racing resumes at the Hippodrome 3R next Sunday with first race post time at 1:30 pm. For more information visit www.quebecjockeyclub.com.

By Steven Wolf, for the Quebec Jockey Club