Sunday’s 12-dash program will mark the end of Bangor Raceway’s 34-day extended race meet and the beginning of the Maine agricultural fair circuit. Following a 10-week stint at the historic Bangor track, most horsemen racing at Bangor now face the weekly ritual of moving from fair to fair, which begins in Skowhegan and ends nine weeks later in Fryeburg in October.

Bangor parimutuel figures, supplied by Mutuels Director George Witman, indicate a downturn from 1993, but overall handle numbers – including off-track wagering – bolsters that total handle figure. With 30 completed racing days (through Sunday, July 17) for 312 dashes, the on-track wager amounts to $1,686,636. This compares to the 1993 figures for 26 racing days, 267 dashes and a total live racing handle of $1,821,696.

However, this year Bangor will factor in an additional $329,685 generated by OTBs – bringing the overall merged parimutuel handle to $2,016,321. The percentage of decrease in “live” handle at Bangor Raceway this season is 21 percent and the daily average is down 13 percent.

In 1993, the daily average was $70,065, compared to this season’s merged average of $67,111. In 1993, the on-track per dash average was $6,823 and this season’s merged average dash amounted to $6,463. With OTB merged money in 1994, the combined dash percentages drop from 21 percent to 5 percent and the daily average drops from 13 percent to 4 percent.

One more figure must be added to the mix to get a more accurate picture of the reversal process that has begun at Bangor Raceway this season. More than $100,000 has been spent in facilities repair and a city-negotiated facility rental fee of $50,000.

You did a great job Fred Nichols, etal. The place looks great, the promotions are bringing people back to the track and everything looks like you are here to stay.

NEXT WEEK, the Bangor officials crew moves to Skowhegan for some extended meet racing. Bill Ring will be in the presiding judge’s perch atop the track, along with Gary Gray and Pam Merrill. Ken Sumner will serve as race secretary, Scott Niles, assistant and Clayton Smith, director of racing for the extended meet days and fair racing at Skowhegan Raceway. The abbreviated Skowhegan schedule calls for racing on Friday and Saturday night at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. The following week, Skowhegan will race on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., then move to Topsham and Northern Maine Fair in Presque.

Don’t forget, Scarborough Downs is racing live every day, except Monday, and County Raceway races every Friday at 7:30 p.m.

LAST FRIDAY, the MSBS races featured the 2- and 3-year-old trotters. In the first of two trotting divisions, each non-betting races and each for a $2,322 purse, John Beckwith and Spring Starlight trotted a winning trip around the Bangor oval in 2:11.4, while Gerald MacKenzie Jr. and Jim’s Delite won from fifth in 2:07.4.

In the two 3-year-old trotting divisions, both wagering races and each for a $4,974 purse, it was Ray Ireland and West Ridge Gossip, winning his second MSBS series race from eighth in 2:09.3, while Dan Sumner trotted Newengland Nitro to his first MSBS win in 2:08.1.

Sunday’s Bangor racing program featured the four divisions of 3-year-old pacing fillies and colts and geldings, all wagering events. In a $5,025 filly pace, John Nason and Rondandy gathered in the winner’s share of the purse in 2:03.3. The second filly division raced for $4,830 and was won by My Bill Cheryl and Sean Branagan.

In the two colt divisions, each for a $4,627 purse, Paul Battis and Silver Dollor Bill set a lifetime mark for a half-mile track, blistering a mile in 1:59.1. Gary Mosher and SK Hurricane (barred from betting) grabbed the top honors in 2:01.1.

MSBS races move to Scarborough Downs next week on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Maine harness racing community was saddened Tuesday by news of the death of Gerald “Jerry” Nye of Hermon. Nye died after a long struggle with cancer. Nye was a driver-trainer and a regular fixture on the Maine racing circuit for more than two decades. He had a great sense of humor and he will be missed by all who knew him. Our condolences are extended to his wife and family.