Canadians find cash cow racing horses in Bangor Larger purses, exchange rate fuel influx of talent

Since early May, Bangor Raceway has played host to dozens of Canadian horse-owning families living out of motor homes in an area behind the grandstand. These families have traveled south to take advantage of harness racing opportunities.

Canadian horse owners travel to Bangor for one seemingly specific reason: money. With more racing opportunities, bigger race purses and a favorable exchange rate, there is money to be made here.

Without Canadian horses, the track would struggle to find enough horses locally for their races, and therefore track officials offer Canadians the use of track barns and areas to park their motor homes free of charge, according to Bangor Raceway general manager Fred Nichols.

“Horses supply the product. If you haven’t got enough horses you can’t have a race,” Nichols said.

With Bangor running two days a week – and planning to expand to four days in two weeks – and Scarborough Downs currently hosting four race days a week there is ample opportunity for Canadian horse owners.

“Lots of the Maritime [tracks] race only one day a week. If you have a truck down here you can race almost every day, so that makes a big difference,” said Canadian harness driver Heath Campbell.

Canadian owner Doug Beckwith prefers to race at Bangor Raceway instead of tracks in Canada because there is actually less hauling to various tracks.

“I like to be at the track, I can stay [in Bangor], if I stay home I have to truck to all the other tracks,” said Beckwith.

As well as providing more opportunities to race, many of the Maine tracks feature larger purses than their northern counterparts.

“In Fredericton [New Brunswick], for example, each race [purse] goes for only $300 to $400 dollars and you race only once a week,” said Campbell, “Here you can race twice a week and go for $1,500 each race, so you’re going for $3,000 a week.”

The favorable exchange rate this side of the border is another incentive for the Canadians.

“If [a Canadian owner’s] horse wins a $1,000 purse here, it’s American dollars, so that’s the equivalent of $1,600 or $1,700 when they go home,” said Nichols.

When Bangor Raceway’s season ends in late July, most Canadian owners travel to Maine fairs and other racetracks in the state before heading back to Canada in late fall.

Campbell consistent

Over the weekend Heath Campbell picked up seven first-place finishes, two seconds and four thirds. Campbell currently leads all Bangor Raceway drivers with 19 wins with an acquired purse of more than $22,000.

Fast times

On Friday, Greg Bowden drove Captain Kilean to victory in the eighth race with the best time of the night, 1 minute and 59 seconds. Sunday afternoon’s best time was also 1:59, with Cain Mackenzie driving JK Gem.

Super Sunday

Sunday’s total handle at Bangor Raceway was $55,436.00 – up 16 percent from last week and 38 percent from the same day last year. Friday’s total handle was $34,384 – down 19 percent from last week and 5 percent from last year.