Having split North America into two distinct countries – United States and Canada – the review of Canadian racetracks will be undertaken first on a province by province basis. This article deals with the province of Quebec.
QUEBEC –
Three Rivers/Hippodrome Trois Riviere –
The current and only live standardbred pari mutual track in Quebec’s Montreal City is that of Hippodrome Trois Riviere (previously Three Rivers) which operates from May through October on a half mile track. The betting parlour is open year round from noon to midnight providing simulcasts.
Trois-Rivières is a city in the Mauricie administrative region of Quebec, at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence rivers, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River across from the city of Bécancour. Part of the densely populated Quebec City–Windsor Corridor approximately halfway between Montreal and Quebec City, both being roughly an hour distant. The city’s name Trois Riviere being French for ‘three rivers’, named for the fact the Saint-Maurice River has three mouths with the Saint Lawrence River.
In 1836 the first thoroughbred race was run here on a mile track and harness racing commenced in 1903. Night trotting was introduced in 1951 and harness racing continued its triumphant return from the WWII years. From this time and into the 1990’s racing was conducted on a half mile circuit named The 3 Rivers.
With most programmes raced under lights two or three nights a week, Three Rivers was one of the most progressive and successful tracks in Canada in 1951. Track owner and operator Joe Darvean energetically advertised and promoted harness racing to fans securing the best possible horsemen available.
Racing took place over six months with in excess of one hundred horses stabled on track, pacers outnumbering trotters about four to one. Late in the 1951 season it was announced that among other improvements a paddock would be built in time for the 1952 season.
Moving forward to the modern era and Hippodrome Trois Riviere (Hippodrome 3R).
Founded in 2009, the Club Jockey du Québec is a non-profit organization, whose mission is to restart the Québec horse racing industry in the province. The objective of the Jockey Club being to restore the horse racing industry through internet betting, the re-opening of betting parlours, and most importantly the presentation of live race programmes at Trois Riviere. Its legal existence was conferred through letters patent by the Quebec enterprise registrar on 19 June 2009.
Founded by a group of businessmen who are or have been owners of Standardbred race or breeding horses, members of the Quebec Jockey Club each made a monetary commitment to the venture with the understanding that all profits generated would be re-invested to ensure the revival and development of horse racing in Quebec and that their initial investment would be paid back over a period of five years, the Club having obtained the right to organize horse racing wagering in the province from the authorities. Wages from internet, betting parlors and the Hippodrome are all put to profit the industry. Through purses given on racing days at the Trois-Rivières Hippodrome, the profit from wagering finances Québec standardbred breeding and the overall industry.
In addition to the Hippodrome de Trois Rivieres harness track, the city is also represented by the internationally famous motor racing venue named Circuit Trois-Rivières that hosts American Le Mans Series, SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series, Star Mazda Series, World RX of Canada and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series events; baseball is represented by the Frontier League‘s Trois-Rivières Aigles playing home games at Stade Stereo; ice hockey, have several teams in the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey, with home games at the Colisée de Trois-Rivières.
In 2014, the hippodrome resurrected the Prix d’Été once a major Canadian race for three year old colts which commenced at Blue Bonnets raceway, Montreal in 1971 (first winner Albatross) and contested until 1992 with the 1993 edition cancelled due to a five month strike action by horsemen. It had earlier been run for open pacers from 1968 – 1970.
The revised Prix d’Ete is for four year old pacers with the inaugural race on Sunday 21 September 2014 for a stake of $200,000 plus $50,000 consolation race. The richest stakes event in North America for four-year-old pacers and a Grand Circuit event The Prix d’Ete for 2020 and 2021 (normally run in August) were cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic and resultant uncertainty regarding spectator attendance.
On Wednesday 16 August 2017, Hippodrome 3R’s, Trois-Rivieres, Montreal track hosted four evening heats of the World Drivers Championship (overall winner James MacDonald, Canada). Races were split between two at one mile and two at 1 1/16 mile. Winners were Marcus Miller (USA), James MacDonald (Canada), Mika Forss (Finland) and Noel Baldacchino (Malta).
Blue Bonnets/Hippodrome de Montreal –
In 1872, the Blue Bonnets Raceway opened for thoroughbred horse racing on the Jos. Decary farm in the easternmost part of the Blue Bonnets community, now Montreal West. In 1886, the Ontario and Quebec Railway (company controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway) cut the raceway in half. In 1905, John F. Ryan founded the Jockey Club of Montreal which on 4 June 1907, opened a new Blue Bonnets Raceway on Decarie Boulevard.
Harness racing was introduced in 1943 with Jean-Louis Levesque building a multi-million-dollar clubhouse in 1958 for the Blue Bonnets Raceway. By 1961 it had begun to challenge the pre-eminence of the Ontario racing industry and in 1966 the original harness track was converted to a five eighths circuit.
The Namur metro station being built close to Blue Bonnets Raceway proved controversial as Montreal Tramways Company ran streetcars into the race track site. Some people argued the metro station site was chosen to benefit Blue Bonnets while others believed that the tram stations would address future traffic problems. This controversy coincided with a failed Blue Bonnets Development project spelling trouble for the community.
In 1995 the track was purchased by the municipal government corporation, Le Société d’habitation et de développement de Montréal (SHDM) and renamed Hippodrome de Montréal. The track owned and operated by the provincial government agency SONACC (Société nationale du cheval de course) provided live harness racing, simulcasts, inter-track wagering from the United States, off-track betting, two restaurants and hundreds of video lottery terminals and slot machines in a casino operation.
A decade and a half later bankruptcy and closure of the former Blue Bonnets raceway and Hippodrome de Montreal followed. Attractions Hippiques entered bankruptcy protection on 27 June 2008 suspending horse racing and all other operations except its Video Lottery Terminal gambling machines and inter-track wagering which operated for a few more months. Following the provincial government withdrawing its support, Attractions Hippiques declared bankruptcy on 13 October 2009 permanently closing the race track after 137 years in operation.
The government of Quebec took ownership of the land allowing the rock band U2 to hold a massive outdoor concert there in July 2011. On 23 March 2012 the Government of Quebec announced it was returning ownership of the land to the City of Montreal provided it received half the proceeds of any land sale (no sale could take place until 2017 after the land and required decontamination). In October 2014, it was discovered the government agreement was never signed nor finalized, leaving the redevelopment projects future in question. Plans to demolish the race track and clubhouse building by 2014 fell through, leaving the buildings abandoned and derelict and grounds overgrown for nearly a decade. In the summer of 2018, the demolition of the former racetrack began but plans for future redevelopment of the site remain uncertain.
Blue Bonnets raceway was home to one of the richest races in North America, the Prix d’Ete, dating back to 1968 when first contested as an open pacers race until 1970. From 1971 to 1992 when Blue Bonnets closed, the Prix d’Ete was for three year old colts where many world champions won the prestigious race – Albatross was the initial winner in 1971, others included Abercrombie, Niatross, Cam Fella, Butler BG, Falcon Seelster, Matts Scooter, Beach Towel …. The Quebec Jockey Club revived the Prix d”Ete, now for four year olds in 2014.
A couple of notable track records were established at the once famous Blue Bonnets track including :
- the first sub two minute mile recorded five years after Canada’s first by Mighty Dollar (Keith Waples) at Richelieu Park in July 1959. Blue Bonnets first sub two minute mile in 1:59.4 went to American invaders Bengazi Hanover (George Sholty) on Sunday afternoon 18 October 1964 in the Trans Canada Pace ($16,000), Canada’s richest event for three year old pacers that season. Bengazi Hanover (Tar Heel/Beppy Hanover) the only American entry against ten Canadians was sent out favourite before a crowd of 11,931 patrons with future Canadian Derby winner Timely Knight finishing second. His time bettered the mile set a year earlier in 1963 by Canadian bred Country Don (2:00.3)
- the Montreal Trot ($143,000) for three year olds raced on American Independence Day Sunday afternoon 4 July 1982 before 8,883 fans watched trotting sensation Arndon (Arnie Almahurst/Roydon Gal) maintain his unbeaten ten race winning streak. A field of ten faced the starter with trainer/driver Delvin Miller (owner NZer Roy McKenzie [knighted in 1989]) celebrating his sixty ninth birthday in style. Arndon established a track, Canadian and world record time of T1:57.2 for the mile. The previous record set in 1979 was held by Speed In Action (T1:58.2) another Miller trained trotter
Exhibition Park, Sherbrooke –
Sherbrooke, a city in southern Quebec is situated at the confluence of the Saint-François (St. Francis) and Magog rivers in the heart of the Estrie administrative region. The sixth largest city in the province and the thirtieth largest in Canada with over two hundred thousand inhabitants, it at one time hosting a half mile harness racing track.
Connaught Park/Hippodrome d’Aylmer –
Briefly, Connaught Park (1913 – 1995) later known as Hippodrome d’Aylmer (1996 – 2008), was a thoroughbred, steeplechase and harness racing track that operated a casino and live betting facilities until its closure. The track was located in the Aylmer, Quebec district of Gatineau, near Ottawa, Ontario. A one mile dirt track was used until 1954 for thoroughbred racing before the track became a harness only track operating on a half-mile dirt track. Racing concluded in 2008 after its owner declared bankruptcy with the track being sold in 2009 for a housing development.
The track founded in 1913 was named after the governor-general of the time Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, the club’s first honorary president. The Connaught Park Jockey Club was founded by J. McEntee Bowman, a New York hotelier, Ed Skead and J. K. Paisley. The ninety acre (36 hectares) site was selected from several sites in Aylmer with special soil brought in for the one mile track. Whilst initially a track for thoroughbred racing, steeplechase races were later held. The first race meeting held on 14 June 1913 was part of a seven day meeting.
The track operated annually until 1917 under the Canadian Racing Association (CRA) when racing was interrupted due to WWI. The track re-opened in 1920 continuing to operate under the CRA until 1934 when joining the Province of Quebec Racing Association, whose president was Tommy Gorman (track operator). Connaught Park introduced the daily double format of betting on horses in 1931 allowing a higher odds bet requiring picking the winners of two races at the track.
By 1954, Connaught Park was one of the last tracks in Quebec holding thoroughbred racing. Stakes on offer from Connaught Park and Blue Bonnets were not acceptable to the Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). Connaught Park raced a fourteen day meeting while negotiations were being held with the HBPA. By the final day of meeting 5 July 1954, negotiations had broken down with Connaught announcing that a second fourteen day meet was cancelled with the day’s racing cancelled after one race. Track conditions of the one-mile track were considered unsafe by the jockeys who refused to race again on the track making this the last thoroughbred race held at Connaught which would only hold standardbred (harness) races in future.
After harness racing’s commencement at Connaught Park in 1954 competition in the form of Rideau Carleton Raceway, south of Ottawa commenced in September 1962. The two tracks co-existed with race dates staged so as not to overlap. Attendance at Connaught started to decline in the early 1980s, with a 27% decline in the years 1982 to 1985.
In 1961 after Tommy Gorman’s death, track ownership passed to his sons Joe and Frank until Frank’s death in 1984. A legal battle between Betty Hern, Joe Gorman and Frank Gorman’s estate waged over ownership of the track. Joe bought out his partners for an estimated $1 million in a sale finalised in December 1986. Clinton Park Driving Association and Rideau Carleton Raceway had both bid for the track.
Joe Gorman invested in a new dining room at the track but wagering revenues declined. The Connaught Cup was cancelled in 1993 the same year that Joe retired after a hospital stay leaving his wife Pilar in charge. The Connaught Cup was reinstated in May 1994.
In 1995 the Quebec Racing Commission suspended Connaught’s licence due to financial difficulties the track owing horse owners $317,000. Connaught’s race dates were moved to Rideau Carleton and the track went on sale for $5 million. The Aylmer Council rejected a proposal to sell some land for a housing development. With the track owing $317,000 to horsemen, $400,000 in taxes, $100,000 to Quebec Hydro and a $1.6 million mortgage to Toronto-Dominion Bank, bankruptcy followed in September 1995.
A plan by horsemen to reopen the track in 1996 failed and the track was then purchased in May 1996 by retired newspaper executive Michel St. Louis (also a horseman) and twenty eight other investors costing $1.2m for the track and a half million to cover outstanding taxes. The track reopened as Hippodrome d’Aylmer on 29 September 1996.
The Government of Quebec which had been subsidising harness racing in Quebec took over the Hippodrome’s operation in 2002. Expanded betting facilities, Loto-Quebec gambling machines and a reduced racing schedule were implemented. Ownership was merged with several racetracks in Quebec with management in the hands of SONACC (Societe nationale du cheval de course), a Quebec government agency. In 2006 the racetracks were sold to Attractions Hippiques owned by Senator Paul Massicotte. Massicotte planned to spend $2 million on improvements to the Aylmer track.
The 2008 meeting was the last at Aylmer as Attractions Hippiques was placed under bankruptcy protection in June 2008 with debts of $73 million against assets of $41 million. Attractions Hippiques sold the site to a local developer after closing the track’s betting parlour on 9 October 2009. A housing development “Quartier Connaught” has been built on part of the land. The racetrack grandstand remained standing for several years but has since been demolished.
Quebec City, Quebec
Night trotting was introduced on this half mile harness track in 1948. Races such as the Quebec Pacing (1943 – 1966) and Trotting Derbies (1945 – 1966) as well as the Canadian Pacing (1950 – 1958) and Trotting Derbies (1951 – 1953) were held on the Quebec City track.
Richelieu Park –
Situated in Montreal, this half mile neighbouring sister track to the Blue Bonnets location opened in 1942. Canadian harness racing make great strides in Quebec during the 1950’s, especially these two great racetracks in metropolitan Montreal.
At its peak harness racing in Montreal rivalled its Canadian counterparts. An extract from the 13 February 1952 Harness Horse looks forward to the opening day at Richelieu Park :
When Richelieu Park, at Montreal, opens its gates on May 4, horsemen will find many improvements have taken place. The new owners, along with race secretary, George Giguere, have moved back the grandstand, widened the stretch, and constructed 100 new stalls. Racing at Richelieu will be held on a four day a week plan, with Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, along with Sunday afternoon being the racing days. The total purses will be approximately $250,000.
Just a year later, on 14 October 1953 a furious blaze destroyed 275 stalls and a portion of the Richelieu grandstand. Losses were estimated at $800,000 with many owners suffering the loss of twenty two horses and considerable equipment. The complex was reconstructed promptly with 350 new stalls and a grandstand accommodating over 4,000 patrons.
While Blue Bonnets was the larger, Richelieu Park was an extremely successful and popular track. In 1961, the nearly five month meeting consisting of one hundred race days (started 15 April) with attendance, wagering and track records shattered. The overall attendance of 740,375 and mutuel handle of $33,119,207 easily broke the previous Canadian marks. In mid-July wagering on two consecutive days of $451,000 and $583,000 created the first ever $1 million mark for two straight programs.
Adios Butler set the fourth fastest race mile in North American history on 16 July 1961 becoming the fastest pacer to date at Richelieu (1:58.2). A new Canadian attendance record of 16,500 fans watched him defeat Bye Bye Byrd by two lengths followed by Apmat, Tar Boy and O’Brien Hanover.
It appears racing declined at Richelieu Park toward the end of the 1970’s.
Saguenay Park –
Saguenay is a city in the Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec on the Saguenay River, about 200kms (120 miles) north of Quebec City. It had a half mile track which closed in 1966.
Next Article : first of series on racetracks of Ontario province.
Peter Craig
18 May 2022
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
