Warren Strout Pace featured at Bangor

The weather in May can sometimes be great for racing and at other times, it can be very cold, unpredictable and not very conducive to harness racing.

Bangor Raceway experienced both of those conditions during its first week of racing. On opening Sunday, the weather was ideal for the first day of Bangor’s 30-day extended race meet. Both racing fans and contestants enjoyed the great weather – overcast, but warm.

Bangor’s opening 12-dash program featured some outstanding racing and there were several contests and giveaway promotions for racing fans, with prizes ranging from free trips across the country to huge chunks of money.

Also on Sunday, the hot driving hands belonged to driver Heath Campbell, who won five of the 12 races and pulled a hat trick by winning races 4, 5, 6. Campbell also finished second in a pair of races. Two other drivers, Butch MacKenzie and Mike Cushing, also finished the day’s card with a pair of wins. Jason Bartlett and Beach Dragon flirted with the 2-minute barrier in the $3,500 Open Pace feature, clocking a 2:00.3 win mark for the fastest mile of the day. It was a fun day at the races.

Wednesday night’s eight-dash race card, however, was completely opposite as the night’s temperatures dropped to the upper-30s. Horses stood blanketed in their stalls and everyone, from the paddock to the grandstand, drank buckets of hot coffee.

“Reminds me of the old Lewiston Overcoat Meet in November,” said a trainer. “Man, it’s cold.”

Not even the lure of free trips or money could entice loyal racing fans to the track on Wednesday and only a few diehard fans could be seen standing along the rail.

If it hadn’t been for off-track wagering, there wouldn’t have been a parimutuel handle. Wednesday was the kind of a night that makes track operators cringe and wish they could just shut out the lights and go home, rather than spending the next month trying catch up.

But Sunday’s promised warm, weekend sunshine will be welcome for Bangor Raceway’s 11-dash racing card. The feature race is the $6,150 final of the Warren Strout Pace, one of a series of late-closer events honoring track employees.

Last week’s 10-horse field has been pared down to eight entries for this week’s final. Last week’s competition in The Strout series was won by Sand Save, a 6-year-old Beach Towel gelding, owned by Roderick Cushing of Wilton and driven by his son, Mike, from the seven hole to a 2:01.1 victory. Lee’s Lair and Steve Mahar was second and What About Laura, driven by Luke Varnum, finished third.

(Sunday’s starters are on Page C2).

Pacing bits

Ben Avery of Windsor, a longtime owner, trainer and driver in Maine was on the receiving end of a training accident at the Windsor Fairground track on Tuesday. Avery was on the track, training a young 2-year-old Maine Sire Stakes colt, Winsong T W Jet, by Sweet Dragon, when the horse jumped as another horse passed him. The horse fell on the track, taking Avery with him. The horse got up, got tangled in his harness and took off, eventually making it back to the barn.

Avery said when he got up, he was in pain with cracked ribs, but refused to seek medical attention.

“I’m some sore, but I guess I’ll be OK. Gotta qualify Jonathan in Bangor next week,” Avery said.

Speaking of Windsor Fair, Dan Wilson, Windsor’s director of racing, said this week that he has hired a new race secretary this year. Wilson has named Paul Verette, former race secretary at Scarborough Downs, to replace Clayton H. Smith at Windsor this year. Verette is now serving as race secretary at Plainridge (Mass.) Racecourse.

Don’t forget on Saturday is the 123rd running of The Preakness, the second leg of The Triple Crown in thoroughbred racing. Special post times are being observed for this Saturday only at Maine’s off-track wagering locations. Miller’s in Bangor will open at 10:15 a.m. Check your local OTB for Preakness post times.

On Thursday, June 7, 5-7 p.m., Down East Harness Horsemen’s Association will again sponsor an open house for horsemen, owners, trainers and their families in the drivers lounge at Bass Park. The menu will be the same as in previous years: good old-fashioned home baked-beans, hot dogs, cole slaw, potato salad, chips, soda and coffee and dessert. It’s all fee, we don’t even ask for a donation. This is an annual event to welcome everyone to Bangor Raceway, so bring the kids, have some food and renew acquaintances over a second cup of coffee.