Quebec Derby
Encyclopedia
The Quebec Derby was a Canadian
Thoroughbred horse race
held annually between 1961 and 1975 at Blue Bonnets Raceway
in Montreal
, Canada
. A race for three-year-olds on dirt, it was run over a distance of 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs or 1,811 metres).
The Blue Bonnets Raceway held only harness racing
events at the time when prominent Canadian horseman Jean-Louis Levesque
purchased the track in 1959. He brought Thoroughbred horse racing
there on a seasonal basis. The Quebec Derby was the track's premier annual event for Thoroughbred
s and Levesque himself would win the race five times with Royal Maple (1963), Pierlou (1964), Fanfreluche
(1970), La Prevoyante
(1973), and L'Enjoleur
(1975).
Trainer
Ted Mann, a 1982 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
inductee, trained the first two winners of the Quebec Derby.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
held annually between 1961 and 1975 at Blue Bonnets Raceway
Hippodrome de Montréal
Blue Bonnets Raceway was a horse racing track and casino in Montreal, Canada. After 137 years of operation, it closed in October 2009.-History:...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. A race for three-year-olds on dirt, it was run over a distance of 1⅛ miles (9 furlongs or 1,811 metres).
The Blue Bonnets Raceway held only harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
events at the time when prominent Canadian horseman Jean-Louis Levesque
Jean-Louis Lévesque
Jean-Louis Lévesque, was a Canadian entrepreneur, thoroughbred racehorse owner, and philanthropist....
purchased the track in 1959. He brought Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
there on a seasonal basis. The Quebec Derby was the track's premier annual event for Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
s and Levesque himself would win the race five times with Royal Maple (1963), Pierlou (1964), Fanfreluche
Fanfreluche (horse)
Fanfreluche was a Canadian-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. She was named by her French Canadian owner for the title character of a popular children's television show on the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...
(1970), La Prevoyante
La Prevoyante
La Prevoyante was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred race horse elected to the Racing Halls of Fame in the United States and Canada. A filly, she was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque...
(1973), and L'Enjoleur
L'Enjoleur
L'Enjoleur was a Canadian Thoroughbred race horse. Bred and owned by prominent Montreal businessman Jean-Louis Lévesque, L'Enjoleur was sired by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Buckpasser, a son of another Hall of Famer, Tom Fool...
(1975).
Trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
Ted Mann, a 1982 Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame
The Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame was established in 1976 at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario to honor those who have made a significant contribution to the sport of harness and thoroughbred horse racing in Canada....
inductee, trained the first two winners of the Quebec Derby.
Winners of the Quebec Derby
- 1975 - L'EnjoleurL'EnjoleurL'Enjoleur was a Canadian Thoroughbred race horse. Bred and owned by prominent Montreal businessman Jean-Louis Lévesque, L'Enjoleur was sired by U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Buckpasser, a son of another Hall of Famer, Tom Fool...
- 1974 - Norland
- 1973 - La PrevoyanteLa PrevoyanteLa Prevoyante was a Canadian-bred Thoroughbred race horse elected to the Racing Halls of Fame in the United States and Canada. A filly, she was bred and owned by Jean-Louis Lévesque...
- 1972 - Gentleman Conn
- 1971 - Green Belt
- 1970 - FanfrelucheFanfreluche (horse)Fanfreluche was a Canadian-bred Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. She was named by her French Canadian owner for the title character of a popular children's television show on the French-language division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation...
- 1969 - Sharp-Eyed Quillo
- 1968 - Phelodie
- 1967 - More of Mort
- 1966 - Bye and Near
- 1965 - Good Old Mort
- 1964 - Pierlou
- 1963 - Royal Maple
- 1962 - Fire Queen
- 1961 - Edgor's Lane