BANGOR – Back when they were teens, horsepower had an entirely different meaning for Greg Bowden than it did for his friends.

While his friends were saving money, checking car lots, and perusing magazines, Bowden was already a proud owner of a harness racing horse.

“I had a car, but the horse came before the car,” Bowden said. “If I’d been allowed to go up and down the city streets on a horse, I probably wouldn’t have bothered with a car.”

Thirty-one years later, Bowden’s love for horses and harness racing has elevated him to lofty status in the industry as he has become the 22nd Maine harness racing driver to join the 3,000 career victories club.

“It’s just another milestone, but it means a lot to me because it’s a lifetime body of work,” said the 45-year-old Bangor native. “Now I’m moving on to try and get another thousand.”

Although he says he’s getting old, don’t bet against him. Bowden says he has “another good 10 years left” in him and will continue to race until he either can’t do it physically or he’s no longer productive.

Maine State Harness Racing Commission chairman George McHale, a former track announcer at Bangor Raceway, called Bowden’s first race when Bowden was 16.

“He was obviously a talented guy early on and he’s contributed a lot and he’s been a mainstay in the sport,” said McHale. “He continues to be a shining light in the industry. I think a lot of young people getting into racing would do very well to emulate him.”

While his friends dreamed of being firemen or pro athletes, Bowden only wanted to race from the age of 7 on.

Bowden reached the victory milestone Sunday, April 29 at Bangor Raceway, which was also the site of his first career win.

“I wasn’t aware of it until my brother came up to the winner’s circle and told me,” Bowden said. “It puts you in a state of reflection, no doubt about that.”

“I remember my first win very vividly. He was a cheap claiming horse named My Arrow,” Bowden recalled. “He made three breaks during the mile, mostly because of my inexperience, and it was in the mud, but he won by several lengths in 2:14.4.”

Since Bowden, who owned his first horse at age 14, was driver and owner, he earned about $400 out of the $700 purse.

Win No. 500 came at Lewiston Raceway while Bowden’s 1,000th was at Rochester, N.H. He said No. 1,500 came at Fairmount Park in St. Louis; No. 2,000 at Pompano Park in Florida; and No. 2,500 at Plain Ridge, Mass.

Bowden no longer owns horses. He trains them for Gary Mosher, but now that the season is at a full gallop, he’s concentrating solely on driving.

“I’m going to try to concentrate on this track in particular and the Mass./N.H. circuit,” he explained. “I want to be able to race six days a week, hopefully, and establish a pattern.”

Bowden’s role model has been the 47-year-old Mosher, a trainer-owner-driver who’s just more than 100 victories shy of 5,000.

“He’s my best friend and mentor,” he said. “I grew up with him in the business.”

The business has changed a lot the last 30 years, but mostly for the better, says Bowden.

“I think the safety issues are what I’ve noticed the most. The equipment is better designed, more durable, lighter… I think we’re in a much safer place than we were,” he said. “Also, the evolution of the breed itself. There’s really no such thing as a poorly bred horse now. They’re all born to race in every sense of the phrase.”

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