Harness racing a family affair Smiths’ stewardship spans generations

Little did Roger Smith Sr. realize what he was starting when he became involved in harness racing back in 1952 as a horse owner.

Over the last 54 years, the 91-year-old state racing steward for the Maine State Harness Racing Commission has been an owner, breeder, general manager and even a U.S. Trotting Association judge.

“Well, I guess I’ve done a little bit of everything,” said Smith, the general manager of Bangor Raceway from 1961 through 1970 before taking his current job in 1972. “It’s a great business to be part of.”

Evidently, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree before being eaten by the horses.

His 67-year-old son, Roger Jr., got his start in the racing industry in 1961 doing odd jobs around the track before serving as a driver, starter, licensed thoroughbred steward and a track manager for various raceways in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois and Massachusetts. He was also one of Maine’s youngest racing judges after becoming certified in 1965 at age 21.

“Then I got into the school and became a judge and all that stuff,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of jobs all around the country. Then I went into racetrack management and managed other tracks around the country.”

“First I was picking up rocks on the racetrack, then driving the gate, and eventually I’m the starter. Course, it helps when your old man is general manager of the track at the time.”

You could say harness racing has become a family tradition for the Smiths. Roger Smith Jr.’s wife Mindy works for International Sound as a simulcast coordinator, working at Bangor Raceway and other Maine tracks during the eight-month season, and was a former program director at The Meadowlands in New Jersey.

Roger Smith Sr.’s wife Irma says she’s not “officially” involved in the industry, but …

“It’s kind of hard to be married to someone like Roger for 25 years and not be involved somehow,” she said with a laugh. “I did get my charter’s license back along, but I only used it for a couple of years at Topsham Fair. I guess that was about 15 years ago.”

A charter calls the races and either marks down the places of the horses or relays them to other officials via two-way radios or other forms of wireless communication.

There are three other Smiths employed at Bangor Raceway, but neither paddock judge Sheridan, patrol judge Albert, nor clerk of course Brenda is related to Roger’s clan.

“Yeah, there are a few Smiths out there,” the senior Smith said with a chuckle.

And then there were four…

What began with 64 hopeful entrants four weeks ago is now down to four.

Bangor Raceway’s NCAA Tournament-style contest involves entrants picking the top finishers in races from The Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., and earning points based on correct picks.

Players are paired randomly and higher point totals move them on to the next round.

The two finalists win a free trip to Penn National’s resort at Hollywood Casino near Memphis, Tenn., for four days and three nights.

Right now, there are only four people who still have legitimate hopes of being those finalists: William Hartt and Steve Butler of Bangor, Lisa Rossignol of Milford, and Anita Stephens, who beat husband Lenny in the quarterfinals to move one step away from a free trip and – more importantly – earn family bragging rights.

Stephens is the high point-earner in the contest with 116 of a possible 200.

And they’re off…

Harness racing shifts from Bangor Raceway to Presque Isle for a weeklong stint at the Northern Maine Fair this week.

Northern Maine’s fairgrounds hosted the first race Friday, followed by races on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

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