Victoria Pace drivers wanted

Stephane Bouchard, the leading driver in North America during the 2003 campaign and currently third in driving victories this year with 286, will be among the participants when Monticello Raceway stages its Victoria Day Pace on Monday, May 21. The race, for drivers of Canadian heritage slated on Canada’s Victoria Day holiday, will be the fifth preliminary leg of the Mighty M’s year long Heritage Drivers Series.

When the Mighty M last presented a race for drivers of Canadian heritage—then called the Maple Leaf Pace during the 2005 season—Bouchard took home the winner's trophy.

Bouchard, 40, who began his illustrious career in 1989,  has already reined 5,749 winners and amassed purses in excess of $40 million.

After spending his formative years plying his trade in Canada, the Montreal, Quebec-native chose the metropolitan New York area to set down roots. After only 1 1/2 years competing at Yonkers Raceway, Bouchard became the top reinsmen at the Hilltop oval. And he has dominated the drivers' standings there since.  

Last year when Yonkers Raceway was under construction Bouchard was the leading driver at Monticello Raceway when he reined 410 winners and his purse earnings of $2,742,822 established a record at the Sullivan County oval. This season he is atop the Yonkers Raceway leaderboard with 170 wins and is currently second at Monticello with 110 driving victories.

Expected to join Bouchard in the Victoria Day Pace are: John Gilmour, Jacques Primeau, Keith Haase, Bruce Borden and Terry Finch.

However, according to Eric Warner, the track's director of racing, he is still short of a field for the Victoria Day Pace.

“At this time we only have six drivers who have consented to compete and we still need a few more drivers of Canadian descent to fill our field,” Warner said.

Anyone with Canadian heritage interested in competing in Monticello Raceway's Victoria Day Pace Pace is urged to contact Warner in the racing office at (845) 794-4100 ext. 557 or call the track's publicity office at ext. 455. (Monticello)

« Back