Autumn is a great time for harness racing in Maine. As the nights turn a little cooler and the leaves begin to change color, Maine’s final three agricultural fair exhibitions will mark the close of the summerlong fair circuit.

Tonight, Scarborough Downs presents its last live racing program (it will continue simulcasting every day) until Oct. 12. Each year, the state mandates The Downs closes to ensure an adequate horse supply at the Farmington, Cumberland, and Fryeburg fairs. So, for the next three weeks, there will be fair racing only.

And this weekend, Farmington Fair begins its weeklong (plus one day) agricultural exhibition and race meet with 12 dashes of live racing, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Farmington will simulcast its races this year, but not on the first day, Saturday – they never do – it’s an extended meet race day.

Simulcasting at Farmington begins Sunday, according to David Dunn, director of racing. Dunn said Farmington will race afternoons with a 1:30 p.m. post time Saturdays and Sunday and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Farmington was the first Maine fair to simulcast its races and, this year, Cumberland Fair (the week following Farmington) will simulcast its races for the first time.

“Simulcasting isn’t for every fair,” Dunn said Wednesday. “Each fair has to look at its own situation and decide if it is going to help them. Simulcasting our races has worked very well for Farmington.”

Dunn said if Farmington had not simulcast its races and an off-track wagering facility (or two) was located within 90 miles of Farmington’s live races, the Farmington race track would receive one percent of the OTBs straight handle and two percent of the exotic wagers that was bet at the OTB(s) during Farmington’s races.

“We gave up that OTB stipend in favor of simulcasting,” Dunn said.

According to Dunn, at the time of year Farmington races, “there aren’t a lot of tourists in the area or a big population to draw from, and just so much money in the area.”

Dunn believes that by simulcasting harness racing from Farmington, “we are extending our area of bettors, not only helping ourselves, but also the horsemen,” Dunn said. “In the beginning, I was a little leery of simulcasting. But for Farmington, simulcasting has definitely helped our handle over the past three years and, nationwide, simulcasting seems to be the trend and on the increase.”

Paul Brown is Farmington’s race secretary and Dennis May assumes the presiding judge’s spot above the grandstand. This year, Brown has classified successful meets at Bangor, Presque Isle, and Union before coming to Farmington.

On Farmington’s opening day, Brown will feature the $1,200 opening leg of The Hight Chevrolet Dash For Cash Pace, a two-race, elimination series with a $4,000 final on Saturday, Sept. 26, closing day. The Farmington track will also feature the 3-year-old Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes – trotters on Wednesday, pacing fillies on Thursday, and pacing colts on Friday’s race card.

PACING BITS – At the 2-year-old MSBS finals at Scarborough Downs on Sunday, there was a surprise and a record (of sorts) set.

In the $18,277 2-year-old trotting final, prerace favorite Mic Mac Jack and Walter Case Jr. made a nasty break on the backside and took themselves out of contention for the win. The break severed Jack’s perfect MSBS record of eight wins in eight starts in 1998. But wait until next year! Incidentally, Casey just earned his 8,000th career win. The trot final was won by Goblin Girl, driven by Dave Ingraham and trained by Dana W. Childs.

In the $18,388 pacing filly final, People’s Ruler and Heath Campbell paced the Scarborough half-mile track in a sizzling in 2:00.1 to win over prerace favorite Gypsy, who finished second. Gypsy had compiled a record of 9-7-2 and held the fastest pacing filly time of the 1998 MSBS series in 1:58 for driver Doug Gray.

In the $18,388 colt and gelding divisional final, prerace favorite, KV’s Dragon went out and did what the bettors expected – he won in 2:01. Just for the record, the Sweet Dragon colt was driven and trained by the same pair that won the trotting final – Ingraham and Childs. That’s a first in the MSBS finals. The outstanding Aroostook County colt Marianne’s Big Boy and Mike Murchison finished second.

The Maine harness racing community has been saddened in recent weeks by the deaths of three of its finest – two from the Farmington area. Mary Smith of Farmington, one of Maine harness racing’s greatest assets, died two weeks ago. She was the wife of the late Murray Smith, and together they started the horse racing dynasty known in the Farmington area as the Smiths (Sheridan and Albert) and Cushings (Gloria, Rick, Bob, Mike, and Ronnie). She was a great lady and everybody will miss her.

Also in Farmington, Roger Ladd, a groundskeeper and electrician at the Farmington track for more than 30 years, died recently. From everyone who knew him, “the Hugger” will be missed.

And from Presque Isle, Ricky Allen, a friend who gave more then he ever asked from anyone has died. Allen was a sightless man who used his ears at the race track to enjoy all the sounds, smells, and clamor that goes with horse racing – or for that matter, any sport. Sleep well, old friend.