Scarborough Downs hopes to draw more fans Racetrack underwent changes; opening set for Saturday

The level of activity at Scarborough Downs the last few weeks has resembled that of Santa’s workshop in December.

Maybe that’s why track employees and officials have been eagerly counting down the last few days like children awaiting Christmas. Saturday is opening day for Scarborough’s 57th season of harness racing.

“I’m so pumped for opening day,” said Susan Higgins, Scarborough Downs’ director of marketing. “We’ve done a lot of renovating and remodeling to make this an even more enjoyable place to come.”

Anyone – from veteran railbirds to harness racing novices – will notice a lot of changes at the raceway and simulcast racing facility this season.

This isn’t your great-grandfather’s racetrack, but that’s OK.

“Our target is to get younger fans in here to see races and expand our patronage,” said Higgins. “We find that once people come here the first time, they really are surprised at the whole experience and how much they enjoy themselves.”

There’s more to enjoy this year – for less – as admission is no longer $2 per person.

“Everyone gets in free for life,” Higgins said. “It’s one of the ways we’re thanking customers for their patronage.”

It’s also a way to entice more people to get people out to the track, which has gone to all-daytime racing after ripping out a dangerous hub rail system that caused a horse fatality last season. Since the track’s lighting system was mounted on the hub rail, there’s no more night racing.

Scarborough is offering a new Player Rewards program in which bettors earn points for every dollar wagered. Points can then be cashed in for everything from programs and T-shirts to $500 betting vouchers and high-definition TV sets.

“The player rewards card is hugely popular right now. People are just scrambling to get one,” said Higgins.

Another addition is the track’s VIP lounge, a state-of-the-art simulcasting room with vending machines, flat screen TV’s, and personal service on the third floor of the clubhouse building. The room is enclosed by tinted glass, can accommodate as many as 50 people, and is billed as being available only to “the serious player.”

“It’s all glass enclosed around the bar and looks out on the track. You can see out, but not in, and there’s no glare off the windows outside,” Higgins said. “We have up to 30 tracks a day we simulcast races from on the TVs, plus we can get live sporting events. We’re pretty proud of it.”

Saturday’s post time is 3:45 p.m. Other special opening day events include the singing of the National Anthem by award-winning country music singer Jose Duddy; an appearance by Harness Racing Promotion Board mascot Whinney, who will hand out balloons and coloring books to children; door prizes; and the playing of the ceremonial first call on the trumpet by Scarborough High School student Jay Vachon.

Sunday’s post time is 12:05 p.m. Scarborough will race 106 days this season from April 14 through Dec. 11 on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Post times are 12:05 p.m. on Sundays and 3:45 p.m. on all other days.

Scarborough’s opening day is later this year than previous ones. The track usually opens in late March.

“Our plan was to open the first weekend in April, but that was Easter,” Higgins explained. “We didn’t want to open in March because traditionally it’s the toughest month to get a racetrack surface ready. The weather makes it unsafe and in the interest of the animals’ safety, we felt that this was the best time.”

Bangor Raceway will open its 124th season Sunday, April 22. It’s the first of 54 race dates on Bangor’s expanded racing schedule, which runs April 22 to July 22 and Oct. 13 through Nov. 4.