The Quebec Jockey Club (QJC) has announced that in addition to the Lucien Bombardier Pace for two-year-old fillies that takes place on Sunday, Oct. 1 at Hippodrome 3R, there will now be two $60,000 races that afternoon honouring the recently departed Brian Paquet, who passed away on Aug. 20, 2023 at the age of 78.
Paquet, an industry leader in Quebec and Canada, was a former director of the QJC, a prominent owner and breeder and he also spent time serving as an industry leader with terms on the Board of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society for decades including terms as Vice President. He then also served on the Board of Standardbred Canada, with terms as the Vice President while also sitting on the executive committee for several years. He was also on the Board of the Quebec Jockey Club as well as the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame's Election Committee.
More than 25 corporate partners have expressed their support to commemorate his memory. So, in his honour, there will be these two races for $60,000 each. A sum of $10,000 will also be donated to the ACFA Foundation (At the Heart of Farming Families) as he wished.
The two races will be for pacers. The first will be for horses ages four and older with priorities to Quebec-bred, Quebec-owned and then open pacers. The second will be for mares ages four and older with the same priorities.
It will be a special day honouring the late Brian Paquet.
(With files from Quebec Jockey Club)