The time has come to bid farewell to Tour Royal, the remarkable trotting mare who captured the hearts of racing enthusiasts. After a well-deserved and comfortable retirement in St. Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Tour Royal, aged 35, has peacefully passed away, according to owner Jacques Sarrazin.
Tour Royal's legacy in Quebec's harness racing scene spans over a decade, during which she mesmerised audiences with her exceptional talent. With an impressive record of over 370 starts and an astonishing 84 victories, Tour Royal amassed earnings of approximately $760,000. Her incredible journey was deeply intertwined with her trusted driver, Serge Turenne, until his tragic demise in a racing accident at Hippodrome Trois-Rivieres in 2001, at the age of 38.
Despite facing fierce competition in open company races at Hippodrome de Montreal throughout most of her career, Tour Royal consistently triumphed, achieving an astonishing feat of winning at least twice for 12 consecutive years. Her extraordinary partnership with Serge Turenne, who often referred to her as "incredible," was forged due to his father, Real Turenne, training the mare from the tender age of 18 months.
Tour Royal's undeniable talent shone from the very beginning. As a two-year-old, she astounded spectators by clinching victory in eight consecutive races and securing a place in the top two in 12 out of 13 starts that year. Serge Turenne reminisced, stating that he would confidently guide her to the lead, daring their competitors to surpass them, a challenge that most often went unanswered.
At three years old, Tour Royal triumphed in the highly esteemed Coupe des Eleveurs final, the most lucrative sires stake event of the year. Notably, she cemented her place in history at the age of seven by setting a new track record for trotting mares at the Hippodrome de Montreal.
Although Tour Royal did not replicate her on-track success as a broodmare, her contributions to the sport remained significant. Eventually, Paul Labonte, the original owner and breeder, offered her to Jacques Sarrazin after her breeding endeavours yielded limited results. Sarrazin, too, attempted to breed her with limited success. Among her offspring was a foal named Tourenne, a heartfelt homage to her late driver, Serge Turenne.
In her final years, Tour Royal found solace at the farm of Xavier Limpens and Josee Morisette, who provided exceptional care and comfort. Jacques Sarrazin expressed his gratitude, acknowledging that Tour Royal was an exceptional mare who enjoyed a well-deserved retirement.