Hippodrome 3R will not race on Friday this week, but will have a special Saturday (June 12) card featuring the Québec Regional Fair Circuit starting at 1 p.m.
This will be the 38th season of fair racing since the launch of the circuit in 1983. Nearly a hundred horses were nominated for Saturday's 10-race card.
Paul-André Lavigne, the always-optimistic president of the Québec Regional Fair Circuit, has been in office for almost thirty years and devotes himself to the cause with the same enthusiasm and the same determination since he first started.
"I am not getting any younger,” Lavigne said. “But the pleasure is always the same, despite the many obstacles that have littered the road since the beginning of the pandemic. 2020 was a different year and, in light of what I can see today, 2021 will be of the same type with some light at the end of the tunnel.
"One of the goals of the Regional Circuit is to broadcast the races throughout the region,” Lavigne explained. “In 2020, we mainly raced at H3R with only one race meet in the provinces during the program presented at Ferme 4G in St-Joseph-de-Lepage. This year, what I can confirm is that we will have two programs at H3R, one this week and the other next week on June 19. In July, we should still be racing at Ferme 4G and in August at St-Aimé-des-Lacs.
"We are aiming for three other programs,” Lavigne added. “But at the moment it is too early to certify everything. We have to wait for confirmation from Public Health and the Québec Jockey Club. One thing is certain: if we have the green light, we will be ready.”
During the presentation of the races of the Regional Fair Circuit, some rules of racing of the professional tracks fall to the wayside.
For example, it is not necessary for the horses to be qualified; on the contrary, a good race at the Regional Circuit when presented at H3R, can become a validated qualification.
The age limit for horses of 14 years old also does not apply. In addition, any holder of an A, B, C or D driver's license can compete in fair racing. For some owners and others in the industry, this is a golden opportunity to drive their own horse(s).
This week's program will feature 17 two-year-olds making their first purse starts. This is a great opportunity for racing fans to see new drivers, trainers and horses taking their first serious test of participation that may lead towards their professional careers, both human and equine.
This is the first meeting of this weekend, while regular races will be held as usual, on Sunday (June 13) at 12:30 p.m. In both cases, wagering is possible on HPI, TwinSpires and other betting outlets.
Racing fans are not allowed at the track so far this season because of the pandemic. This does not stop them from parking their cars outside the fence in the backstretch, taking out their lawn chairs and coolers, and enjoying the races from the opposite side of the track.
At times there can be nearly 100 cars parked there as the racing fans in Québec sorely miss not being able to come to the track and watch, wager and root for their favourite drivers and horses.
First race post time Saturday is 1 p.m. and on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. For a free race program, visit hippodrome3r.ca.
To view Saturday's fair entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Hippodrome 3R.
(Québec Jockey Club)