TORONTO – While representing Canada, Billy Davis Jr., a regular driver on the Woodbine Entertainment Group (WEG) circuit, won the 2012 Prix des Rencontres Internationales du Trotteur Français on Saturday at the Hippodrome de Paris-Vincennes.
The 26-year-old Guelph resident was selected to compete in the international driving competition, which was established by Cheval Français to celebrate the French trotting breed.
The reinsman guided Orage Mauzun to victory in the 2,100 metre tilt for trainer S. Provoost and owner Ecurie Danover.
Davis Jr. was second-over in the early going before tipping his charge three-wide down the backstretch. Around the final turn, Orage Mauzun took a slight lead, but into the stretch the backfield came to life. The trotter was able to hold off a late-rush by Rapide Du Bois (M. Abrivard) to win by a nose. Odedjalo (I. Fazekas) finished third.
Davis Jr. admits he had a difficult first day in France adjusting to the time change and taste of French food. But when the time came for him to hit the racetrack, he was on his game.
“I was really calm the whole time I was there and relaxed on the track during and before the race, which was surprising,” he said. “I thought my nerves would’ve gotten the best of me and the fact I couldn’t eat anything last night or today.”
During the race, Davis Jr. experienced some technical difficulties.
“The horse I drove was a little Cadillac with the exception of bearing in on the last turn,” he said. “He had a flawless gait and a good motor. He wore a pull hood and Swedish blinds, but I couldn’t use either of them because in France they attach the strings to the hand holds. I couldn’t get it to work.”
The British Columbia native had no idea who won the race after they crossed the wire. When he saw Provoost wasn’t smiling when he got back in front of the paddock, he thought he hadn’t.
“When I looked in the infield at the big screen, I saw the camera was on me and then I knew I won,” said Davis Jr. “It never really sunk in until I got on the podium and they played ‘O Canada’ then it hit me.
“I felt honoured and proud,” he continued. “I was thinking back to when I was growing up in B.C. I never dreamed of a moment like this. It was amazing.”
To celebrate his win, Davis Jr. and his girlfriend, Melanie, went out to a Chinese restaurant.
Davis Jr. is the third reinsman to don white and red in the international event. Scott Zeron, who finished second, travelled to France in 2010 and Randy Waples, who finished 10th, was last year’s representative.
With 436 wins and over $4.7 million in purse earnings, Davis Jr. sits second in Canada’s seasonal driver standings. He has visited the winner’s circle 1,121 times in his career and has accumulated over $9.2 million in purses.