After the March 15 deadline, a total of 21 four-year-old pacers have been nominated to compete in the $200,000 Prix d'Été Grand Circuit stakes event this summer at Hippodrome 3R in Trois-Rivieres, Que.
The 21 nominees include many of the top horses from last year’s stakes season, such as Little Brown Jug and North America Cup winner Its My Show, Ontario Sires Stakes winner and O'Brien Award divisional champion Stockade Seelster, New Jersey Sire Stakes champion Voukefalas, Bluegrass Stakes winner Command and Breeders Crown elimination winner El Rey, as well as local favourite Light The Torch.
The Prix d'Été will be held at Hippodrome 3R on Sunday, Aug. 18 and will feature the eight highest money-earners in 2024. The Prix d'Été is the richest horse race of the year in Quebec. There are still two more nominating payments due (April 15 and May 15) to remain eligible for the final.
“It is with great pleasure that Hippodrome Trois-Rivières is bringing back the Prix d'Été after a four years absence,” said Sophie Mongeon, Chairwoman of the Quebec Jockey Club. “The number of nominees is satisfying and we are hoping to bring it back as a regular yearly event to showcase our racetrack internationally.”
Once the premier race in all of Canada, the Prix d'Été (Summer Prize) was originally for three-year-old pacers and would feature the best colts in North America year after year. Previous winners included Bret Hanover, Albatross, Niatross, Hot Hitter, Cam Fella, On The Road Again, Ralph Hanover and Matts Scooter.
The Prix d'Été was last held at Hippodrome 3R in 2019 when This Is The Plan and driver Daniel Dube set the all-time track record and what was then a Canadian record (half-mile track) of 1:49.1.
The 21 horses nominated to the Prix d'Été are:
- Act Fast (sired by Downbytheseaside)
- All Bets On Tex (sired by All Bets Off)
- All Class (sired by Heston Blue Chip)
- Ammo (sired by Sweet Lou)
- Command (sired by Captaintreacherous)
- El Rey (sired by Captaintreacherous)
- Ervin Hanover (sired by Captaintreacherous)
- Fulton (sired by Heston Blue Chip)
- Huntinthelastdolar (sired by Huntsville)
- Im Hungry (sired by Stay Hungry)
- Its My Show (sired by Sweet Lou)
- Light The Torch (sired by Always B Miki)
- Liteningonthebeach (sired by Downbytheseaside)
- Moment Is Here (sired by All Bets Off)
- No Control (sired by Control The Moment)
- Redwood Hanover (sired by Stay Hungry)
- Sounds Good (sired by Bettors Delight)
- Stockade Seelster (sired by State Treasurer)
- Tip Top Cat (sired by Always B Miki)
- Voukefalas (sired by Lazarus N)
- Winmebak (sired by Shadow Play)
Hippodrome 3R will have its first qualifying races of the year starting on Saturday, April 13. The start of the live race meet was scheduled for Sunday, April 28 and has been moved to Sunday, May 5.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)