Bangor simulcasting solid Produces four-day wagering handle of $67, 916

Simulcasting at Bangor Raceway over the four-day Memorial Day weekend didn’t take off like a rocket, but harness racing fans did respond favorably. According to figures released by Kurt Rogerson, general manager of the Bass Park Complex, the simulcast handle on Friday was $14,713, 22.7 percent of the total handle of $64,744.

By Monday, the simulcast average ratio had increased to 27.6 percent, $21,388 for four simulcasts out of the $77,585 total pool, according to Rogerson. The 16 simulcast races over the four racing days generated a wagering handle at Bangor of $67,916.

From Friday to Monday, the average handle for each live race increased from $6,254 to $7,024. Rogerson said that heading into this weekend’s racing, Bangor Raceway’s parimutuel handle is up $57,845 more than last year for the same time frame.

Rogerson said the “break even” figure, the cost of putting on the races each day, has not been calculated yet. “There are many variables that have yet to be added in,” Rogerson said.

On Memorial Day from The Meadowlands (N.J.), Bangor racing fans saw a live simulcast of an elimination leg, contested in two divisions, each for $51,750, for 3-year-old fillies in the New Jersey Sire Stakes. The first was won by Ghostly and Ron Pierce in 1:54.2 and the second division was 1:53.2 over the mile-long course, won by Cinnamon Reel, with Jack Moiseyev in 1:54.3.

On Friday in the 11th race, Bangor will present the second leg, for a purse of $1,000, of “The Boys of Summer Series.” The bulky field of 10 will race this week in one division with prerace favorites (both winners last week in identical times of 2:01.1) Diablo (on the rail) and Delightor (in sixth) with Donny Richards, who won his first Bangor outing in 1:59.4.

But, far and away the best race over the three-day racing weekend will be a simulcast from The Meadowlands, the final in the $500,000 SBOA/New Jersey Classic on Saturday’s Bangor program. Western Hanover, the 1991 2-year-old Pacing Colt of the Year, has drawn the rail and has been installed the 6-5 favorite for Saturday’s $500,000 Classic at Big M. It is the richest race in all of horse racing for state-bred horses. The morning line lists a field of 10.

Owned by George Segal of Highland, Ill., and trained by Gene Reigle, who’ll be inducted into harness racing’s Hall of Fame this July, Western Hanover was an unpressured two-and one-half length winner in his elimination race on May 25 and has just under $700,000 in earnings. Bill Fahy will drive the son of No Nukes.

Second choice at 3-1 on the morning line is a former member of the Segal/Reigle Stable, Bilateral, who drew the outside post in 10th. Bilateral was the two-length winner of the Berry’s Creek Pace on April 18 at The Meadowlands.

The winner of the third Classic elimination was Whatapacer, who took advantage of a break by 1-5 favorite Direct Flight and went wire-to-wire with driver Billy O’Donnell in two for a 1:52.1 clocking, the colt’s best to date. Whatapacer is owned by Jules and Arlene Siegel of Somerville, N.J. Former Olympic equestrian medalist Neal Shapiro trains the son of No Nukes, who drew the eighth position.

Other entries with morning line odds, include: Carlsbad Cam (10-1), Run The Gauntlet (12-1), Largo (10-1), Polarized (20-1), American Cousin (20-1), Gorbachev (12-1) and Admirals Galley (3-1).

The $500,000 Classic will go as the ninth race simulcast. The 13th race simulcast is a $250,000 New Jersey Classic Consolation. Saturday’s Bangor racing program will also include the second leg for $2,000 of the Memories of Racing Series. Sunday’s racing program will be 12 live races with no simulcasts. The program also includes the third leg of two late closing series. The Girls of Summer Pacing Series will race for a $1,000 purse, and the third leg of the Paul Bunyan Trot Series goes for a $1,200 purse. Post time is 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Western Hanover and driver Gene Riegle are morning line favorites to win the $500,000 New Jersey Classic at The Meadowlands on Saturday. The event will be simulcast as part of the Saturday racing program at Bangor Raceway.