The 10th race on Friday at Bangor Raceway will be a simulcast of the $1 million Meadowlands Pace Final. In this 10-horse field of 3-year-old pacing colts, Western Hanover (eight starts, five wins, two places, one show; $600,225 in winnings) is the most consistent while Direct Flight (5, 3-1-0, $67,275) is the most unpredictable. Western Hanover, with an obvious fondness for the Big M race track (he’s won all four of his starts there this season) is the favorite to win the race.

In last Friday’s elimination, driver Bill Fahy guided Western Hanover, last season’s 2-year-old champ trained by new Hall of Famer Gene Riegle, to a 1:51.4 win over a track labeled “sloppy.” The time was the fastest of the three eliminations. Western Hanover is looking to become just the fourth 2-year-old divisional champ to win the Meadowlands Pace the following year.

In the 15-year history of the race, only three 2-year-old divisional champions from the previous season have come back to win it: Sonsam, 1979; Niatross, 1980; and Nihilator, 1985.

A win by Western in the final would not only increase owner George Segal’s bank account by $500,000, but ease last season’s disappointment as well.

Flashback to the ’91 Meadowlands Pace when Segal’s (and Brian Monieson’s) Artplace was the favorite. Down from Canada came Precious Bunny, who won convincingly in a stakes-record 1:49.4, then the fastest mile ever. Bunny went on to Horse of the Year honors, while Artsplace – in an irony of ironies – is now the fastest race-mile horse ever, setting a 1:49.2 mile on June 20, 1992.

Also on Friday’s Bangor program is the simulcast of the $100,000 Meadowlands Pace Consolation and a live final of The Stars of Tommorrow Series for a $2,625 purse. Scheduled on Saturday’s 12-race Bangor program are three pre-race Learn and Earn Series, non-betting events for 2-year-old trotters and pacers. Sunday, live races are planned and Bangor will host the fourth annual Harness Horse Youth Foundation Camp in Maine, sponsored by the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. The camp is a charitable, tax-exempt corporation developed to teach young people about harness racing and career opportunities in the sport.

From 8:30 a.m. to noon, Kelly Bickmore, chairwoman for the special Bangor program, will guide Girl Scout Troup No. 331 of Glenburn and Born to Ride 4-H Club from Robbinston through a tour of the barn area. Participants will experience “hands on” training in harnessing, jogging, bathing and bandaging a race horse. They will see a blacksmith at work, hear from the race secretary about putting a race together, and talk with harness drivers.

Off-track wagering facilities are scheduled to open in late July in Waterville. The Maine State Harness Racing Commission will hold a public hearing at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 in Waterville council chambers to receive information on a proposed application by Davric Corp. (Scarborough Downs) to license an off-track betting facility at John Martin’s Manor Restaurant and Lounge.

The biggest stumbling block to the off-track betting facility is contained in L.D. 944, now public law, chapter 579, signed by Gov. John R. McKernan on July 14, 1991.

Under limitations on simulcasting, it states: “A person may not simulcast to an off-track betting facility located within a 75-mile radius of another licensee, at the same time that other licensee is conducting live racing, without permission from that licensee and the commission. A person may not simulcast to an off-track betting facility within a 50-mile radius of another licensee, during any day on which that other licensee is conducting live racing, without permission from that licensee and the commission.”

Racing facilities needing to give permission include: Bangor Raceway, Skowhegan extended and fair meet and other Maine fairs that fall within the radius rule.

Kurt Rogerson, general manager of the Bass Park Complex, said Thursday he probably would attend the Waterville hearing.

“I don’t anticipate opposing it,” Rogerson said. “I also don’t believe I will condone it. I am in favor of the principle of simulcasting. It is going to happen, but not at our expense. We have to protect live racing.” —

The Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes opens the 1992 season at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday, July 15. Only the 3-year-old divisions of trotters and pacers will compete opening week at Bangor Raceway. They will be joined by the juvenile 2-year-old divisions the second week, beginning on July 22.

Wednesday’s 3-year-old trotting competitors include Kelvin’s First Babe, last seen in the stakes as a 2-year-old 1991 divisional final winner. Also returning in the trotting division is Virgin Rain, last season’s top money winner with $11,559 in stakes earnings. Add Race Me Genius, a winner of more than $6,000 and Royal A J, co-holder of last year’s fastest 2-year-old trotting mile of 2:08.2, and this year’s competitors have a standards to trot against.

Friday’s Breeder’s stakes entries are the 3-year-old pacers and Saturday the 3-year-old pacing colts compete at Bangor.