The Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, hosted the inaugural Francois Carignan Cup on October 13, marking the championship finale of the 2024 harness racing season for amateur drivers. In an unexpected turn of events, amateur driver Nancy Auger (not related to Marie-Claude Auger) triumphed aboard the 12-1 odds entry, Mach Play (Shadow Play), leading from start to finish in the ninth race.
Starting from post three, Auger, who also trains Mach Play, quickly took the lead, with On Cruise Control (Mathys Lapointe) following closely in second. Mad Pacha (Mario Dupont) was parked first-over after a spirited three-wide manoeuvre. Mach Play reached the quarter mark in a fast 28.2 seconds, and by the half, the pace tightened at 57.2 seconds. In the backstretch, On Cruise Control moved first-over, providing race favourite Jayport Lexus (Marc Lemay) with advantageous cover.
As they rounded the final turn, Auger maintained Mach Play’s lead, ultimately fending off a late charge from Jayport Lexus to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:00.2. Mach Play, an eight-year-old gelding owned by Joel Gagnon from Pont Rouge, secured his sixth victory of the season, paying $27 to win. In a gesture of goodwill, the event raised $2,300 for Point de Rue, a local charity aiding homeless individuals.
The Francois Carignan Cup honours H3R's operations director, whose family has faced mental health challenges and homelessness. The day's racing also featured two $13,500 Open events for Quebec-bred trotters and pacers, showcasing exceptional talent in the harness racing community.