When the curtain falls on this season’s harness racing Sunday at the Fryeburg Fair it will also mark the end of Paul Lusky’s longtime association with the fair.

“I’m retiring from my regular job, too,” Lusky said. “I’m trying to free up some time.”

The Fryeburg native has spent more than 20 years as the director and assistant director of racing at the fair.

“I go back to the days of Owen Butler,” Lusky said. Butler served in several management positions at Bangor Raceway. He died in 1994.

Lusky describes his role at the Fryeburg Fair as a time-consuming business.

“It takes as much time to set up a six-day meet at it does to set up an extended meet.”

But Lusky’s definition of retirement differs from that of Mr. Webster. Lusky will remain involved in numerous other projects including his role as president and manager of Lake Kezar Country Club in Lovell.

“You’ve heard of attitude adjustment – I’m making an occupational adjustment,” Lusky said.

Meanwhile, Lusky reports the fair is doing brisk business, as evidenced by the handles. The total handle through Friday’s racing was $602,575.

“The handles have been very nice so far,” Lusky said. “We’re hot, dry, and dusty. The handles reflect that. We had some gorgeous weather. People respond well with these nice fall days.”

Lusky said the fair was on a record-setting pace at the gate.

“Our paid attendance on Sunday was 29,000. With the children, season passes, our rule of thumb is that there is usually twice as many people on the grounds [as those paying at the gate].”

More than 22,000 people paid at the gate on Monday while 10,000 more paid on Tuesday.

Sunday’s final day of racing will feature the Mountain Skipper Invitational Pace and the Ed Keller Memorial Trot.

MSBOA Auction set Oct. 20

The Maine Standard Breeders and Owners Association will conduct an auction on Oct. 20 at KDK Standardbreds in Cumberland Center.

As of Friday, 27 horses were listed for the auction. Among them are Affair de Coeur, a Maine stakes winning trotter; the Maine stakes eligible yearling Hurricane Kelsy, a full sister to Gone to Carolina; Justalittlenaughty, a 3-year-old Maine stakes filly that is currently racing; and KDK Mandolay Bay, another Maine stakes eligible yearling sired by Casino Gambler.

Other horses up for auction include So Cheerful, with lifetime earnings of $50,603, and The Golden Rule, a 3-year-old stakes filly pacer.

The auction is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. with a preview beginning at 9 a.m.

Winter Barns

The Downeast Harness Horsemen’s Association has made arrangements to keep the winter barns at Bass Park in Bangor open for horse training from Oct. 11 to Feb. 28, 2002. Call Don Gallant or Karen Gallant at 989-2118 to arrange stabling. Saddle horses having undergone the Coggins Test are also welcome.

Down the stretch: The Fryeburg Fair marks the end of the fair racing season. Scarborough Downs resumes racing on Oct. 12 with races on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through October and Saturdays and Sundays through the end of the year.