Bangor seeking 10 extra dates; wants to simulcast

The number of live harness racing dates in Maine for 1999 will probably drop.

According to figures from the Maine Harness Racing Commission, the state’s largest extended meet, Scarborough Downs, has reduced its racing request significantly and Bangor Historic Park has increased next year’s racing schedule by 10 days.

Most of Maine’s eight racing fair tracks requests have remained the same. But before the commission makes any decisions or issues any race-date allocations for next year, they will review and discuss this past season’s performances at every racing entity.

In 1998, the racing commission approved a total of 299 live harness racing dates to Maine racetracks, according to MHRC figures. But 11 of those live dates were not raced because of horse shortages, bringing the actual number of days raced in 1998 to 288. The total of live dates requested for 1999 totals 230 race days – approximately 58 less live race days than this year.

Most of the agricultural fairs race-date requests remain about the same as last year’s requests: Northern Maine Fair (7); Skowhegan, (12, including extended); Topsham (6); Union (7); Windsor (9); Farmington (8, including extended); Cumberland (9, including extended); Fryeburg (6) and Blue Hill (2).

The most drastic change in 1999 date allocations come from Scarborough Downs and Bangor Raceway. In 1998, Scarborough Downs, requested and received 207 days of racing from the MHRC, beginning in January and ending in December – all of which they have not raced.

Scarborough currently races Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but today is the final Friday Scarborough will race this year. Starting next week, Scarborough Downs will race only Saturday, Sunday programs through its final race day, Dec. 13.

Scarborough’s date request for 1999 is 125 race days, much less than 1998. There will be no January or February racing, according to their application. The Scarboough track will re-open next year on Saturday, March 6, and operate two-day weekend racing until April when they add a third race day and expand to a four-day race week in May. Scarborough requests a closing date of Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999.

While Scarborough Downs appears to be paring back its racing request this year, there are a whole bunch of date applications coming from Bangor Raceway. Bangor Historic Track, lessees of Bangor Raceway, are requesting the MHRC to increase Bangor’s 1999 extended meet racing schedule to 36 days next year, 10 more racing days than this year. The Bangor racetrack has requested an opening date of Sunday, May 2, with a closing date of Sunday, July 25.

Bangor Historic Track has also requested a year-round license to operate an intertrack simulcasting facility at its Bangor location, according to Henry Jackson, executive director of the MHRC. By virtue of its license, they do not need municipal approval and are not considered an off-track wagering parlor. It would, however, operate in direct competition to Miller’s Post Time OTB, also in Bangor.

In 1999, the Bangor State Fair will celebrate its 150th anniversary and the city of Bangor has requested the MHRC to allow them to race two days during the fair. According to Mike Dyer, executive director of the Bass Park Complex, it would be “exhibition racing” only.

“There will be purse money for each race, but no parimutuel wagering,” Dyer said. “Harness racing is a historic part of Bass Park and we would like to have it as part of this special celebration.”

Dyer said the races would be on off days when Skowhegan’s extended meet was not racing and would not interfere with their racing program.

County Raceway is Presque Isle has pared its previous extended meet date request from 10 extended meet days to eight days of racing in 1999.

Requests from Maine’s five off-track wagering facilities, at Bangor, Waterville, Brunswick, Lewiston and Scarborough are the same as last year.

The date-allocation hearings begin at the Augusta Civic Center at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, in the Piscataquis Room of the Augusta Civic Center.