TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec, July 28, 2016 – Throughout Europe, Australia and New Zealand, harness racing is held at various distances that can range from sprints of three-quarters of a mile to extra distance races of almost two miles in duration, the same as in Thoroughbred racing.
But in North America nearly 99% of all harness racing events are held at just one mile with a few exceptions, and one of those exceptions is taking place at the Hippodrome 3R in Quebec on Sunday.
The tenth race for pacers Sunday at 3R will go the extra distance at two miles. And yet this race is only a "prep" for the upcoming August 14 five-mile race called 'Le 5 Milles' at the fair track of St-Aimé des Lacs in Charlevoix, Quebec where the horse will have to do ten laps.
This year the Le 5 Milles, one of the oldest stakes races in the sport, will feature its 105th edition. Last year's winner, Sea Donkey and driver Stephane Gendron, ironically, are not in the two-mile race, yet Sea Donkey is racing at 3R Sunday in the 11th race going in a normal one-mile pace.
Last year the world record was set at 3R in this two-mile race when Aaron's Mattjesty, driven by Denis St-Pierre, won in 4:03.4. That record is in jeopardy of being rewritten this year.
The race favorite Sunday is Strokin, who will start from the second tier in post ten for driver Louis-Philippe Roy, the leading driver at the Hippodrome 3R this season.
Strokin comes into this special race after setting a track record two starts back at Ormstown July 16, winning a 1.5 mile race by three lengths in 3:12.2. The seven-year-old gelding by Whosurboy sports seven wins this season for trainer Yves Tessier, who this year has a very impressive Universal Training Rating (batting average) of .520 at 3R this season.
We asked Louis-Philippe Roy about the strategy with Strokin when going into a 2-mile race.
"I really don't care about where I am in the race," Roy explained. "I mostly care about how the horse is. I want him to be relaxed. It might be in the pocket as well as upfront, it's not the same with every horse.
"Last year when the record for two-miles was set at 3R," Roy said, "We slowed down only for a quarter of a mile from what I remember, and that's why we went that fast."
"I really don't know why Strokin did so well last week." Roy said. "The way he raced in the 1.5 mile at Ormstown, it looks like he is good on that kind of extra distance races.
Roy has also driven in the Le 5 Milles.
"I have driven twice in Le 5 Milles," Roy said. "The first time was with my own horse, Huronexpress and I finished 4th. The second time was last year with Brussebeach, but we didn't go all the distance as I felt he had gave all he had before the end."
Does having to start in the race from post ten in the second tier bother Roy?
"Post 10 does not worry me on this kind of race." Roy said.
Second choice in the race is Hockey Bum from post five for driver Gaetan Lamy. A regular at 3R for many years, the ten-year-old son of Electric Stena won last week on the Quebec Fair Circuit and two starts back was second to Strokin in the 1.5 mile race at Ormstown.
A newcomer to Trois-Rivieres is Bazing Brad from post six for driver Stephane Gendron. This five-year-old stallion by Perfect Union is shipping in from Hiawatha Horse Park where had been first, second or third in his last six starts, including a 1:55.3 score. He is also being trained by Yves Tessier.
Other contenders in the race include Force Seelster (post seven), Northern Juno (post three) and P L Gyro (post four).
Also on the program Sunday are four divisions of the Future Stars Series at the Hippodrome 3R for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies.
From the Quebec Jockey Club