For Bangor Raceway, the Fourth of July holiday weekend seems to kick everything up a notch. Bangor will feature the annual Shrine Day and parade on July 18 and showcase the $10,000 Penobscot High Stakes Bingo Invitational Pace on Sunday, July 25, Bangor Raceway’s closing day.

On Saturday night, some lucky racing patron could walk away with $600 – just be there and fill out the coupon. Also on Saturday, members of the Down East Harness Horsemen’s Association will presenting a half-dozen blankets on horses in the winners’ circle.

And Sunday, Bangor Raceway will observe a special post time of 6 p.m. in order to complete its nine-race program before the fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

The month of July marks the beginning of the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes for 2- and 3-year-olds at Bangor Raceway. For the next 12 weeks (eight weeks for the 2-year-olds), breeder stake events will compete each week at one of Maine’s racing fairs or extended meets. During July, MSBS races will be alternated between Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs before they move to the agricultural fair circuit.

Saturday’s 12-race Bangor program will host three eight-horse divisions of MSBS 3-year-old pacing fillies. Many were 2-year-old pacing fillies from last year’s MSBS returning this year much stronger and with more pacing abilities. In the first $5,477 MSBS division (third race), Roosevelt Susi’s 3-year-old Sweet Dragon filly, Gypsy, has already won in 1:59.4 this year with Doug Gray driving. With a record of seven wins in 10 starts last year, she looks the divisional best in her seasonal Bangor debut.

In the second $5,477 MSBS filly division (sixth race), Russ Pratt and Crash Test Bunny finished second last week in 2:00.3. Saturday, they command the rail. Red Hot Data, a daughter of Wilcos Data, owned by Harold “Bub” Dresser of Lyndonville, Vt., and My Radiant Star, owned by Bob Tourangeau of Scarborough, should secure second- and third-place money in the second MSBS filly pace.

In the 10th race, another $5,478 MSBS filly pace, one lady returns from last year’s 2-year-old MSBS program with the most impressive racing credentials.

Mariana’s Trench, a daughter of San Andre, owned by Bangor native Bob Sumner and Joe Capone of Worcester, Mass., had nine starts last year and compiled a record of 5-3-1, with her best win time of 2:00.2 taken at Scarborough. Already this season, she was won in 2:01.1 at Monticello Raceway. Doug Gray and Easter Sundae look to follow her home for second, just ahead of Heath Campbell and Sinamon Sweetheart.

Sunday’s nine-race program is one of the best cards the Bangor track has presented in some time. In the second race, an $1,800 open pace for fillies and mares, there are six entries, including Immortal Beloved, Meductic Molly, and Sunday Silence sitting second, third, and fourth off the starting gate.

In addition, there is another $1,800 pace for winners over with a nine-horse field (all 2:00 or under) that has S K Hurricane with the rail and Gardner Patterson’s G F Shirlton in the middle (5), while Bill Varney’s Big Easy Goer and Ronnie Dinsmore’s TSM Magic sit sixth and seventh.

In the eighth race, the $4,500 Miller’s Invitational Pace, eight outstanding pacers head to post in this order (from the rail out, with best seasonal time): Rhine Wine, a new entry owned by Lew Hoxie of East Millinocket, 1:54.1; Marilarts Ayjay, owned by Stevie Ralph of Waldoboro, 1:54.1; and Post Card Jack, owned by Corey and Toby Hight of Skowhegan, 1:56.4;

Also, Yo Ho Ho, winner of everything this year, owned by Mike Farnham of Augusta, 1:54.2; Kef Hanover, owned by Bill Varney of Bangor, 1:55.4; Alfred Alfred, a Canadian entry leased by Earl Fram of New Brunswick, 1:58.4; Chatham Hoochee, a new entry owned by John Brophy of Castine, 1:56.3; and Back Road Pride, leased by Linda Beckwith of New Brunswick, 1:57. You gotta be impressed by those pacing entries!

Don’t forget Sunday’s special post time of 6 p.m. Come for the races – stay for the fireworks.

PACING BITS – Will Bangor Raceway race Tuesday and Wednesday through the end of its extended meet? The Maine Harness Racing Commission was inclined to grant Wednesday racing to Bangor last week (Bangor already had been granted Tuesdays) unless some other racing entity challenged their decision. On Friday, just before deadline, Scarborough Downs challenged the racing commission’s decision. The MHRC meets today.

You want to see a some classy trotters tonight? Head to Miller’s Post Time OTB in Bangor or any other OTB in the state. Tonight, in the 11th race at The Meadowlands, Kim Ireland will drive Lew Hayden’s 3-year-old Giant Victory colt, Pine Magic, from the fourth position in the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship Final for colts and geldings.

Two weeks ago, Jack Moiseyev drove Magic to a 1:56.1 second-place finish behind High Tech at The Meadowlands with a closing last quarter of :27.3. Tonight, High Tech drew the ninth position (they race 10 wide). If not the winner, Magic certainly looks like part of the finish-line equation. What an entry he would make for the Billings Trot at Bangor Raceway on Shrine Sunday.