Record number of guests attend Gala des Champions

On Saturday, April 6, a record 210 guests celebrated the 2023 harness racing season in Quebec with the annual Gala des Champions Awards Night at the Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

The evening was a great success with numerous guests happy to meet at the dawn of another great season at H3R on May 5.

Here were the award winners.

FUTURE STARS CHAMPIONS

2-year-old colt trotter: MC EDDY Lookslikeachpndale / Meganou 2.04.2 Owners: Daniel Martin, Dominique Michel, Jean Carignan Breeders: Jean Picard, Daniel Martin Driver: Pascal Bérubé Coach: Daniel Martin

2-year-old filly trotter: SENSI AMNESIA Muscle Mass / Torches Angel 2.05.3 Owners: Marie-Claude Auger, Catheline Pelletier Breeder: Marie-Claude Auger Driver: Marie-Claude Auger Coach: Marie-Claude Auger

2-year-old pacing filly: SHES ROCK Hes Watching / Southern Rock 2.02.1 Owner: Bruce Tremblay Breeder: Lise Carbonneau Driver: Rob Shepherd Coach: Isabelle Darbeau

2-year-old colt pacer: BOOMBOOM TONIGHT Sportswriter / Rapid Tonight 1.58. Owner: Élisabeth Pothier Breeder: Élisabeth Pothier Driver: Guy Gagnon Coach: Marc Bélanger

AMBLE LUCIEN-BOMBARDIER 2-year-old filly pace: SWEET MOLLY Sweet Lou / Cheyenne Molly 1.58.4 Owner: Ecurie CSL Sorel Breeders: Spring Heaven Farm / Doug Millard Driver: Louis-Philippe Roy Trainer: Jacques Dupont

BREEDER’S TROPHY CHAMPIONS

3-year-old colt trotter: DONT TREAT ME BAD Resolve / Miss Bville 2.00 Owner: Hervé Kirouac Jr Breeder: Hervé Kirouac Jr Driver: Jocelyn Gendron Trainer: Hervé Kirouac Jr

3-year-old filly trotter: FREE WHEELS Wheeling N Dealin / Alarming Quick 1.59.3 Owner: Hervé Kirouac Jr Breeders: Hervé Kirouac Jr Driver: Jocelyn Gendron Trainer: Hervé Kirouac Jr

3-year-old pacing filly: LADYCORONA Bettors Delight / Whycaniforgetyou 1.57.4 Owner: Sotirios Anastasopoulos Breeder: Sotirios Anastasopoulos Driver: Pascal Bérubé Trainer: Yves Tessier

3-year-old colt pacer: KINGSTON PANIC Sportswriter / R We There Yet 1.55.3 Owner: Estate of Brian Paquet Breeder: Brian Paquet Driver: Louis-Philippe Roy Trainer: David Pilon

3-year-old Pacing filly RONDA DU LAC Shadow Play / Bookmark 1.57.3 Owners: Louis-Philippe Roy, Maude Larouche, Jean Allaire Breeder: Louis-Philippe Roy Driver: Louis-Philippe Roy Trainer: David Pilon

Quebec Series Trotters:  ONLY FOR JUSTICE Justice Hall / Intense American 1.57.4 Owner: Stable Gaétan Bono Breeder: Stable Gaétan Bono Driver: Rob Shepherd Coach: Linda Bélanger

Quebec Series Pacing Mares: KISS ME BAD Badlands Hanover / Helen Of Troy 1.55.4 Owner: Steven Gagnon Breeder: Anne-Marie Demers Driver: Steven Gagnon Coach: Steven Gagnon

Quebec Series Pacing Horses: THE LIGHT SPEED Moon Beam / Jayma 1.53 Owner: Michel Nolette Breeder: Michel Nolette Driver: Guy Gagnon Coach: Guy Gagnon

Driver of the Year: PASCAL BERUBE 342 races: 81-48-40 / $351,765.

Berube had 24 more victories than Brosseau and Robert Shepherd. He had $43,947 more in earnings than Shepherd. His average UDRS: 353.  Having now been the leading driver at H3R for the 4th consecutive year, Pascal is a model of consistency. Winning more than 80 races over a year of 40 programs remains an achievement that should not be trivialized and he is an exceptional ambassador for racing in Quebec.

Trainer of the Year:  MARC-ANDRÉ SIMONEAU: 128 races: 30-23-8  $106,059. A UTRS: of .355.

The horses trained by Marc-André were very present at H3R as evidenced by the 128 starts. His UTRS average is exceptional, a guarantee of the success of his work in which he is supported by his partner Wendy and his daughter Mary-Lee.

Rookie of the Year:  MAXIME DINELLE 74 races (6-7-15) $25,928.  A green recruit who trained at the Quebec Regional Fair Circuit and who has started his professional career on the sulky well. A very successful year of learning, full of lessons and which will make him gain confidence in the future.

Groom of the Year: SABRINA PELLETIER Very busy in the paddock also over the last few months. We saw her in turn at the Haras De l’Estrie, the Daniel Martin stable, and of course at the service of the duo Guy and William Roy. A very active recruit.

Pacer of the Year: NY HARDCORE record: 22 starts (7-3-1) $17,636 Owner: Sonia Joly Trainers: David Pilon, PM Longpré / Drivers: Rob Shepherd, Jessica Turenne, Jonathan Lachance

NY Hardcore is the horse, all categories combined, which has won the most often at H3R in 2023. What a great acquisition this is for Sonia Joly and his partner Éric Beauséjour. Winning seven times in 22 starts is quite an achievement.

Trotter of the Year: FIX A DRINK sheet: 12 (4-3-3) $17,260 Owners: Shaun Baines, Pierre Leclerc. Coach: Pierre Leclerc Driver: Marie-Claude Auger

If there is one trotter who has asserted himself at H3R in 2023, it is that of Pierre Leclerc. And often in the best classes against the best opponents. Recognized for his great starts, Marie-Claude knew how to maneuver well with this fiery trotter who experienced tremendous progress in 2023 and finished his season on the big circuit strong.

Breeder of the Year: HERVÉ KIROUAC JR

A rare feat than that of Hervé who won the two divisions for trotters of the Trophée des Eleveurs with his two trotters. We have seen this with breeders who bring several of their protégés to the finals, but with only two and signing two victories, that is a feat.

Most Improved Horse: THATS HHOLIGAN Owner, trainer Peter Lepage, drivers: MC Auger, William Roy comparative sheets: 2022 11 (0-0-0) $1,978 2023 13 (4-4-3) 14 $1458

Rarely have we seen a horse evolve so quickly and so efficiently, reaching a new record of 1.58.4 taken before our eyes while the previous year, he had recorded no victories. The credit goes to Peter Lepage who must be congratulated.

Event of the Year: BRIAN-PAQUET INVITATIONALS

Initiated by Sylvain Descheneaux, the two amble invitations presented on October 1st aroused keen interest with their total grant of $120,000 in sponsorships. And all, horses and mares, in memory of Mr. Brian Paquet, one of the founders of the CJQ.

*** Special mentions***

The CJQ wants to draw everyone’s attention to two facts that deserve to be talked about. First of all, the CJQ is proud to highlight the involvement in the industry of a character who is still with us at the age of 91. You will have recognized Mr. Adrien Doré who, in 2024, is still an active horse owner and a great enthusiast.

Secondly, the CJQ also wants to highlight the feat accomplished this year by the mare Lit De Rose, owned by Guy Corbeil, trained and driven in the USA by Patrick Lachance.

It was on October 27, in Yonkers, that the 100% Quebec mare, father Leader Bayama, mother Intense, a Shanghai Phil, crossed this memorable threshold of one million. This extraordinary performance put an end to a season with winnings of more than $354,000, at 8 years old.

Here is one that proudly carries the torch of Quebec breeding across borders. Well done! THE FAVORITE OF THE YEAR

The QJC wanted to highlight this evening the exceptional contribution of a group of enthusiasts, who made their presence felt throughout the year at H3R. These people, many of whom are neophytes, brought with them an extraordinary breath of fresh air. They love their horses, they love the industry, they love being part of it. Each time it’s a journey of several hours to reach us. They have their t-shirts, bring their joie de vivre and celebrate in the winner’s circle.

Congratulations to the people of Saguenay, Écuries Fortin, led by Steeve and Gaétan Fortin. The QJC wants to pay tribute to them for this contribution, this presence and this commitment to our industry. Ladies and gentlemen, the CJQ’s 2023 favorite, Écuries Fortin.

H3R Track announcer, Guy Lafontaine, was the host/MC for the event that was coordinated by none other than François Carignan.

by Daniel Delisle, for the Quebec Jockey Club