Bangor Raceway is off and running Sunday as it starts its 124th season with a 12-race program at Bangor Historic Track.

This is the third straight year in which Bangor Raceway’s race schedule has expanded.

“We’ve added another 10 days to the schedule, which means we have 54 days this year and that’s well over a 100 percent increase from two years ago, when we had 26,” said Fred Nichols, Bangor Raceway’s director of racing.

Bangor held 44 race dates last year.

Unlike last year, the weather finally appears to be cooperating with Bangor’s expanded schedule.

“It looks like it’ll be a beautiful weekend. I’m sure glad we didn’t try to start any sooner,” said Nichols, referring to the unusually high snowfall and constant rain in Maine this month.

Scarborough Downs started its 57th season of racing last Saturday with the first of 126 dates despite overcast skies and some rainy drizzle.

“I don’t think we could have gone much earlier anyway because the horses wouldn’t be ready,” Nichols said. “In fact, some of them aren’t ready now with the weather conditions we’ve had. I think a lot of them are two weeks behind and just starting to get race qualified now.”

Bangor Raceway held qualifying 1-mile runs Saturday and Wednesday this week with 24 horses qualifying Saturday and another 20 Wednesday night.

As usual, admission is free. Post time for Sunday’s racing is 1:30 p.m.

In the meantime, raceway workers are getting the grounds ready. Much of the work has centered on the track itself, which has not escaped the ravages of the recent storms and heavy rainfall.

“Some areas got washed out and there were some ridges here and there, but they’re working feverishly to fix it,” Nichols said. “They use a grader first to eliminate the bumps and valleys and then once it’s pretty level, they apply an all-weather stone dust surface. Then they use a spreader on it.”

Bangor has a “winners only” feature race Sunday that is already full with eight entries.

Nichols and other track officials are in the process of trying to finish up the race schedule as Bangor will put on more promotional races this season than ever before.

Happy birthday horse

The University of Maine College of Natural Sciences, Forestry and Agriculture is holding a birthday party for its racehorse.

The UMaine bookstore will host the party for One Vine Lady, who is turning 10 Wednesday. The harness racing horse has earned $47,500 in 146 races over the last eight years. She has been trained and raced by UMaine graduate Valerie Grondin for the last five years.

“UMaine has an outstanding equine program, from animal veterinary services to equine business, hands-on experience with the farm, and the dressage and equine teams,” said UMaine bookstore director Bill Hockensmith. “It’s a great program, but it seems like nobody knows it.

“The Witter Farm folks contacted us last fall as far as us doing promotions and marketing and we thought a birthday party for a horse would be a great way to increase awareness for them.”

One Vine Lady’s first race was in 1999 when she was 2. She’s raced every season since, averaging about 18 per year. She has 27 wins, 35 places (second place), and 19 shows (third). Her race earnings support UMaine’s equine program and cover the cost of her training, boarding, feed, veterinary services and all other racing expenses.

The party will start at 1 p.m. and the UMaine drill team will do a routine for the public. Bananas the Bear will also be on hand, as will a carrot cake. Balloons will not be, however, as they spook horses when they’re popped.

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