The Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, inaugurated its 2024 harness racing season with a ten-race card on Sunday, May 5, despite persistent rain starting at the start of the first race.
The opening race proved to be the fastest of the afternoon schedule when driver Marie-Claude Auger and 11-1 longshot Radley Hanover (Art Major) handled the off track to wire the field in 1:58.1, winning by a margin of ten and a quarter lengths.
Radley Hanover made his first start of the year. Karol Ann Malo of Saint-Liguori, Quebec, is the owner and trainer of the eight-year-old horse, which paid $24.50 to win.
The judges gave the track a three-second allowance due to poor conditions caused by the rain. Today rain gear and mud fenders were ordinary things.
Pacesetter Born A Rebel (Stephane Brosseau), the 4/5 race favourite, and Thedoginthefight (Sweet Lou) were able to battle it out first-over in the 8th race Preferred Pace, which they won by a neck in 2:02.2.
Brosseau and Born A Rebel led the field into the first quarter mile. The Thedoginthefight then started to move first-over, approaching the half-mile mark. As they made their way around the last turn, Born A Rebel maintained his lead in the backstretch as Thedoginthefight gained ground on them for second place.
Thedoginthefight and Gendron then dug deep in the stretch drive and managed to collar and defeat Born A Rebel. Third place went to Manhatten Joe (Denis St. Pierre).
For Thedoginthefight, it was their second victory of the year. For Gestion Louis Latulippe, Inc. of St Ferreol Les Neiges, Quebec, the eight-year-old gelding is trained by Serge Houde and paid $11.60 to win.