Everyone at Bass Park has heard the voice of Llewellyn Bubier, but few know his face or what he does. Bubier is the paddock judge at Bangor Raceway, a job he has held for more than 10 years.

From the paddock area, Bubier barks his orders to horsemen before each race to “bring those hosses right up for the next race” and his reminder of “only six minutes ’til the next race.”

Whether you stand near the patrol judge’s stand in the first turn or back in the barn area, everyone at the Bass Park complex hears “Boob,” as he is called by horsemen.

Bubier stands inside the paddock gate in the judge’s stand and watches every movement in the paddock area. The Strong resident arrives in Bangor a month before the meet opens. At 82, Bubier is going strong, could pass for 60, and has a great sense of humor.

“Age is just a number,” he says.

The paddock judge has complete control of the enclosed paddock. All paddocks must be enclosed with a fence and are under the judge’s control from the time of the paddock call until 15 minutes following the last race.

Bubier is responsible for everything inside the paddock during the races: making sure the right horses have the correct tattoos and equipment to race; having a blacksmith present; an ambulance present; and having all programmed horses in the paddock within the required time.

Bubier began officiating almost 30 years ago at the urging of Roger Smith Jr. A former farmer, Bubier owned several horses.

“I mostly had trotters. We’re talking about going back to the days of Gorham Raceway,” Bubier said.

Bubier said he had a couple of trotters that were considered outstanding in Maine competition 30 years ago.

“I always had trotters,” Bubier said. “Probably my two best trotters were Pride Up and Danny Boy Hanes. At Gorham, They both trotted in 2:07 and won a lot of races. All my trotters retired on a win,” Bubier said.

During the past three decades, he has officiated as paddock judge at Scarborough Downs, Mile High City, Colo., Wheeling, W.Va., and at Ohio and Illinois tracks.

“My wife and I used to travel to these tracks, but she never came into the paddock or the barn area. After a while, the distance was too far to haul a trailer, so I just work the Maine circuit,” Bubier said.

Bubier has a daughter, Jacqueline, who lives in Millinocket and teaches school.

After Bangor, Bubier will move around the fair circuit, from Skowhegan to Union and to Windsor. His final stop will be at Fryeburg Fair, the season’s final fair in the state.

Bubier has some strong opinions, especially on experience.

“In any business, you can’t beat experience. To me, this business here is one of the greatest. You can do something all your life and still learn something,” Bubier said.

He said he had had good luck with horsemen.

“I have known most of them all for 45 years and they respect my judgment,” he said, “and if my judgment isn’t any good, then nobody’s is.