Except for Scarborough Downs, all of Maine’s harness tracks are either closed or being used just for winter training. Many area horsemen believe their horses need a rest and have turned them out to pasture, while other horsemen continue the daily ritual of jogging horses to keep them in shape for weekend winter racing at Scarborough Downs.

At the November date hearing in Augusta, Downs management told the Maine State Harness Racing Commission it plans to continue live harness races on Saturday and Sunday through December and begin the 1998 season on Jan. 3, with two-day live racing weekends until the end of March.

With racing opportunities being on the scarce side for the next few months, Maine horsemen are turning their attention to the annual winter meeting schedule. It’s time to have a little fun, share some summer racing stories and honor some outstanding performances by both horse and man during the 1997 harness racing season. During January and February, several horsemen’s organizations and fair associations will hold their annual winter business meetings and awards banquets.

The Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association, the largest association representing horsemen in Maine, will hold the first winter meeting and awards banquet at the Augusta Civic Center on Saturday, Jan. 10. The general membership meeting begins at 3 p.m. with a social hour at 6 p.m. and dinner, awards and scholarship presentations at 7:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $15 per person. For reservations, write: Ken Ronco, executive secretary, MHHA; P.O. Box 3093; Lewiston, Me., 04243-3093 or call 783-2535.

In conjunction with the MHHA meeting, the USTA, District 9, (New England) business meeting is scheduled at 4:30 p.m. District chairman, Don Marean, and directors Paul Fontaine, Bill Faucher, Ron Ralph and Ival Cianchette will seek imput from area horsemen concerning any proposed USTA rule changes affecting Maine horsemen.

The Down East Harness Horsemen’s Association will hold its annual winter business meeting, awards banquet and auction on Saturday, Jan. 17, in the Crystal Room at Millers Restaurant, Main St., Bangor.

A social hour is scheduled at 4 p.m. with the business meeting and election of officers at 5 p.m. Dinner is at 6 p.m. The guest speaker will be Tom Kole, executive director of the Maine Harness Racing Promotion Board, at 7:15 p.m. Awards, the naming of the Bangor Daily News Harness Horse of the Year and door prizes are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. with an auction of horse-related items following the awards. Tickets for Miller’s salad bar are $15 per person. For reservations, write to DEHHA, P.O. Box 1963, Bangor, Me. 04402-1963, or call Joan Corbett, 942-6197; Wendy Mosher; 848-5303 or Dot Ward, 989-4739.

The Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs will meet Jan. 29-30-31 at the Holiday Inn by the Bay, Portland, according to MAAF president, Fred Lunt Jr. The general membership meeting is scheduled at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, with several other fair-related workshops on Friday and Saturday.

Richard Crabtree, chairman of the Maine State Harness Racing Commission, will present the racing commission’s annual report at the Saturday afternoon general membership and election of officers meeting and Edward J. McLaughlin, commissioner of agriculture, will present the agriculture department’s annual report at the MAAF awards banquet on Saturday night.

The awards banquet, honoring outstanding Maine fairs, begins at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. For banquet reservations, contact Muriel Bonin, P.O. Box 200, Litchfield, Me. 04350, or call 268-4631. For hotel reservations, contact Fred Lunt Jr., P.O. Box 328, Clinton, Me. 04927.

The Maine Standardbreeders and Owners Association will hold its annual winter business meeting, awards banquet and auction on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Clambake Restaurant in Pine Point. Take Route 1 to Dunstan Corner, Scarborough, turn left on Route 9 toward Pine Point and Old Orchard to the Clambake Restaurant.

The meeting begins at 11:30 a.m., with a seminar led by Dr. Patty Provost of Tufts University talking on common bone and joint problems with young horses. Don Marean, president of MSBOA, said a light lunch will be served during the seminar.

The agenda calls for: business meeting at 2 p.m.; social hour at 5 p.m.; dinner and awards begin at 6 p.m. with the auction after the awards. For reservations, write: Alberta Emerson, 519 Boom Road, Saco, Me., 04072 or call 284-7420.

The Farmington Fair Horsemen’s Association is the last of the season to hold its annual winter business meeting, awards banquet and auction. It takes place on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Wilton American Legion Hall, according to Bob Cushing, a FFHA director. The agenda is: social hour, 4:30 p.m.; dinner at 5:30 p.m. and awards and auction at 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for the banquet, according to Cushing, but all horsemen are expected to bring an auction item that will offset the cost of the meal. For more information, contact Bob Cushing at 778-3430.