“We are really pleased with the early results,” said Vincent Trudel, the Hippodrome 3R general manager. “The horsemen like the new gate and obviously the statistics since the new gate was put in use read for themselves.”
The new starting gate is slanted up to 12 feet between the #1 post position and the #8 position. This allows horses in posts six through eight compensation at the start against the horses that start from the inside posts.
The average win payout at 3R since the new gate was used has risen nearly 22 percent. The average currently is at $12.72. Horse starting from the post position six, seven, eight and nine have risen also win winning percentages and are going into Sunday’s program at increases to 14 percent, five percent, seven percent and eight percent, respectively.
Betting favourites have continued to decrease over six percent since the new starting gate was used and is now at 39.7 percent.
“Just this past Wednesday we had payouts of over $73.00, $71.00 and $48.00,” Trudel added, “and then Canbec Lindo and Stephane Brosseau last week left from post seven with the new gate, got into perfect position and won at 87-1 odds, our highest win payoff this season at $177.00. It will be exciting to see if things again improve this Sunday.”
Sunday’s card at the Hippodrome 3R has two co-feature events in the third and ninth races.
The third race is for trotters and featured is R Rkadabra in post seven for driver Stephane Gendron. A winner in two of his last three starts for trainer Marc Lemay, R Rkadabra has wired the field in both his wins in 1:59 and 1:58.4. His main rivals will be return winner Erge Baboche (post one) and Miss Jackpot (post four), who is one of two mares in the race against male rivals.
The ninth race pace will be a real slugfest as Rainbow Palace puts her two-race win streak against a field of eight rivals. She is the only filly in the race against all males. With Francis Picard in the sulky, Rainbow Palace has won her last two starts from both on and off the pace in 1:57.1 and then last week posted a lifetime-best score in 1:56.3. But it will not be a walk in the park for Rainbow Palace as she faces game performers LaCaille Gabe (post two), Y S Joe (post four) and Matts Phil (post seven).
First race post time Sunday is 1:30 pm.