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Longtime NEWS harness racing writer Ken Ward will be among those honored at the opening ceremonies of the Cumberland Fair Sunday at 1 p.m.
Mike Timmons runs the harness racing meet at the fair. He said that Ward, who died on July 23, will be remembered by New England Harness Writers’ Association with a moment of silence.
“The writers want to pay tribute to Ken,” Timmons said.
Also being honored at the ceremony will be Ernie Cobb, who Timmons said has called the races at the fair for more than 40 years.
The writers will also recognize Lee Fitch of Sebago. Fitch has more than 7,000 wins in his career and will be inducted into the New England Writers’ Hall of Fame at the Plainridge Racecourse in Plainville, Mass., in November.
Timmons said that Donna Fenderson of Cumberland would receive the Groom of the Year award at the ceremony. Fenderson works for Don Richards Stables in Cumberland. Gerry Prevost of Portland will receive an award for his contributions to the 2001 fair.
“It will all be started with a special singing of the National Anthem by the Windham Chamber Singers,” Timmons said. “We wanted to do something because of the tragedy in New York.”
The racing meet will run Sept. 23-30 with races starting at 3 p.m. each day.
“We have blankets for every race and as many as 15 trophies will be given out to winners by sponsors,” Timmons said.
Scarborough Downs, but not out
While the demise of Scarborough Downs has been speculated in some quarters, its owners have been spending money on track renovation.
Katherine Rolston, the track’s advertising director, said that $115,000 has been spent on upgrading the facility.
“Other projects are in the works that we’ll be doing before the end of year,” Rolston said.
The hub rail on the homestretch has been replaced with a new flexible rail made of PVC pipe and the rail has been moved 12 feet back toward the infield. Styrofoam pylons were placed on the trackside of the rail.
Improvements were also made to the winner’s circle. Stone dust was added and flowers have been planted.
Additionally, the lounge has been renovated to include banks of 40 TVs, a new bar and new furniture, and the smoke-eater system has been upgraded.
Rolston said the track has had an excellent year.
“We’ve had good attendance and solid handles. On Sept. 8 we handled the most we’ve had all year with the O’Connor GMC pacing series.”
Rolston said the track handled $86,461.
“That’s $45,000 more than it normally would have been,” Rolston said.
The Scarborough meet begins Oct. 12 with races on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in October and on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 9. Racing begins at 1 p.m. each day.
It seems like only yesterday
The first race was held at Bangor Raceway on Sept. 25, 1883, and on that day in 1999 at Yonkers, Billy Parker Jr. won his 7,000th race. On Sept. 26, 1923, Single G set the world record for fastest four heats over a half-mile track at Bangor Raceway. Leigh Fitch won his 6,000th race on Sept. 27, 1995, at the Cumberland Fair. Butch McKenzie picked up his 1,000th win at Cumberland Fair on Sept. 28, 1994, and in 1998 Walter Case Jr. set a single-season record of 854 wins.
Down the stretch: Saturday is the final day of the Farmington Fair and featured on the 10-race card is the Hight Invitational when a field of five quality horses will chase a $5,000 purse. … The Maine Harness Racing Promotion Board is sponsoring a Horseman’s Golf Tourney, Oct. 1, at the Val Halla Golf Club in Cumberland. The shotgun format begins at 1 p.m. and cost is $25, which includes 18 holes, cart, and bag lunch. Call Rick Simonds at 650-9348 or Jim Nickerson at 653-6083 for more information.
Don Perryman’s harness racing column is published each Saturday during the racing season. He can be reached by calling 990-8045 or by email at dperryman@bangordailynews.net
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