Anyone familiar with the Maine harness racing scene needs no introduction to Valerie Grondin.

The Bangor native and University of Maine graduate has won nearly 500 races and has put together a very successful career as a harness racing driver, trainer and owner that has lasted more than two decades.

Last Saturday, Grondin was honored for her career achievements as part of a select field at the inaugural North America Women’s Driving Challenge, an invitational benefit race event in Woodline, Ontario, that raised money for breast cancer research.

Only the top 20 female drivers – based on career earnings and victories – in Canada and the United States were invited to participate. Drivers from as far away as Chicago, Florida, Ohio, Delaware and Alberta came to compete.

“They Fed-Exed me an invitation,” said the former Maine trainer of the year. “Then they flew me up on a Thursday and paid for everything while we were there, including a cruise and a night out at nice restaurant. Then we raced on Saturday; they flew us back on Monday. It was amazing.”

Grondin – who has been driving continuously for the last 20 years, but not as often the last 10 as she has devoted more of her attention and skill to training – said the red carpet/rock star treatment was something she’ll never forget, but it was a special connection she has to the event that really made it meaningful.

“One of the biggest reasons I went was my mother died of breast cancer in 1987,” she said. “So it was nice to be able to help raise money to fight cancer.”

The 11-race event had each of the 20 women drivers compete in four races. The top 10 then took part in the finale in which Grondin finished second. Not bad for someone who couldn’t even finish her first race because of a flat tire on her sulky.

“I had a win and two seconds after that, and I finished third overall,” said Grondin, who shaved three seconds off the personal-best career time of one of her horses en route to an overall effort that contributed $500-600 to cancer research.

“They pay you five percent of your winnings and then that’s donated to the foundation,” Grondin said. “Their goal was $20,000 and they ended up raising more than that with the races and an auction.”

Grondin was back at Bangor Raceway Friday preparing for the evening races, but the events of the previous weekend were still fresh in her mind.

“It’s just nice to be recognized that you’ve done so well over the years,” she said. “I only knew two of the other drivers, so just meeting everyone and making new friends was great. So was being treated like royalty. A lot of little kids asked for my autograph.”

Let’s go camping

The U.S. Trotting Association will bring a fairly new youth program to Bangor for the first time this summer.

If you have an 11, 12 or 13-year-old horse enthusiast in your family, the Harness Horse Youth Foundation may have a summer program for them.

The three-year old harness racing summer program has expanded to Bangor Raceway this year and will take place July 19-23. The five-day, four-night clinic/program will allow youths to take part in an intensive program instruction and participation in everything from blacksmithing, training, exercising, feeding and training as well as driving horses. The final day will feature actual races between the participants. The cost is $100 per person and registration information can be had by calling Bangor Raceway at 947-6744.

Andrew Neff can be reached at 990-8205, 1-800-310-8600 or at aneff@bangordailynews.com