Racing fans have often labeled harness racing the mystery sport because the average fan knows little about it beyond what they see from the grandstand or watch on the racetrack. During the past two years, however, the United States Trotting Association has been trying to change that closed society perception by holding a series of seminars aimed at educating fans and recruiting new owners.

Many racing fans would like to get involved at some level, but are clueless as to how to take the first step. What is involved in the paddock or barn area to get a horse ready to race? What does owning a horse cost? What about trainers, drivers? How can I become an owner or an official?

Answers to those questions, and others, will be answered Sunday at Bangor Raceway during a USTA introductory owners seminar for anyone interested in owning a Standardbred horse.

Co-sponsored by the USTA, the Maine Harness Racing Promotion Board and Bangor Historic Track, the seminar begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes at 1:30 p.m. before the afternoon races, according to Rick Simonds, executive director of the MHRPB. The first step is to be there.

Coffee and doughnuts at the grandstand at 8:30 a.m. kicks off the new owner seminar with introductions by John Pawlak, USTA publicity director. Pawlak will discuss “What’s In It for Me?” – the risks and rewards of horse ownership, followed by comments from horse owners and breeders, Don Marean, (Lindon Farms, Standish) Bill Varney (Pembroke Farm, Bangor) and Simonds.

At 9:45 a.m., seminar participants take a trip to a breeding nursery (North Star Standardbreds, Newburgh) owned by Dick and Linda Hartley, for a tour and discussions on keeping stallions, broodmares, and raising foals. Dr. Robert Causey, professor of pre-veterinarian Sciences at the University of Maine at Orono will also field questions.

Pawlak will discuss types of ownership and the costs involved: racehorses, claimers vs. conditions; Hartley and Marean talk about yearlings and bloodstock and Dave Cochrane, representative of The Billings Trot, will speak about amateur driving clubs. Back at the Bangor track, Pawlak will discuss selection of trainers, communicating with owners and preparing horses for racing.

The seminar will also deal with “shopping” for a horse and how to select racing opportunities and classifying horses with trainer/drivers Gary Hall and Steve Mahar. At noon, lunch will be served and potential owners will have an opportunity to talk to racing officials before the afternoon racing program begins.

The USTA, in conjunction with the local horsemen’s association and racetracks, have held 14 educational seminars from Maine to Indiana and as far south as Florida and have attracted some 170 people who have learned about the different ways to become an owner – through claiming, auctions and breeding.

Tuition for the Bangor seminar is $10 per person and includes a year’s subscription to “Hoof Beats,” the official publication of the USTA, lunch, and all instructional material plus a Sunday racing program. For more information and a complete agenda of Sunday’s seminar, call 947-6744 or see Fred Nichols, general manager of Bangor Historic Park.

Also on Sunday at Bangor, the first 500 fans through the grandstand gates will receive a free Maine Harness Racing trading card, presented by the MHRPB. There are 20 four-color trading cards in the 2001 series, entitled “Headlines and Highlights.” They feature some of Maine’s leading drivers, trainers, owners and personalities, along with some of Maine’s finest horses, including the 2- and 3-year-old finalists of the 2000 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes.

Each trading card has a thumbnail sketch on its reverse side. Sunday’s trading card features driver Heath Campbell. Each week, another card will be released at one of Maine’s racing fairs or extended meets. A complete 20-card series, uncut and available for framing, is $10 and may be obtained by calling Simonds at 892-9348.

Pacing Bits

Maine’s two commercial tracks, Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs, have added another live racing day to their schedules. Bangor annexed Friday to its Wednesday and Sunday racing schedule, with a 7:15 p.m. post time. Bangor’s three-day racing week will remain through the end of the 30-day extended meet on Sunday, July 22. Scarborough Downs added Wednesday to its Friday, Saturday and Sunday racing week with a 7:30 p.m. post time.

Don’t leave town on Thursday, June 7 because the Down East Harness Horsemen’s Association will hold its annual “Welcome to Bangor Raceway” open house in the driver’s lounge from 5-7 p.m, It’s a good, old-fashioned Down East baked bean dinner for all Maine and Canadian horsemen, owners, trainers and families. It’s free and it’s DEHHA’s way of thanking everyone for being part of the racing program at Bangor Raceway.