When it comes to fall harness racing, the third time does indeed seem to be a charm for Bangor Raceway. If the first two days of the 21-day fall racing schedule are any indication, fall racing is trotting toward a banner season in its third… Read More
The first phase of the ongoing renovation and reconstruction of Bass Park is heading into the home stretch. The new combination paddock and racing office building should be ready by Oct. 3, in plenty of time for Bangor Raceway’s fall racing schedule, which starts Oct. Read More
The records have been falling at Maine harness racing venues lately as fast as leaves in late October. Gorham native and longtime horse owner Michael Andrew has nearly the cornered the market on those historic performances as three of the record racers are owned by… Read More
In case you missed the race or the accompanying post-race hype, undefeated Deweycheatumnhowe did indeed win the 83rd running of the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, N.J., on Aug. 2, but a Maine-owned horse also distinguished itself in the $1.5 million race. Velocity… Read More
When NBC cameras focus on the action at The Meadowlands track in East Rutherford, N.J., today for the 83rd running of the Hambletonian trotting harness race, fans at Maine tracks and sports pubs will be watching the TV screens with more interest than usual. That’s… Read More
The harness racing season turns traditional this week and shifts its focus to Presque Isle as the Northern Maine Fair opens the 2008 fair circuit. Friday was opening day for Northern Maine’s six-day racing schedule and this year’s weeklong racing program offers several big races… Read More
While deciding to leave the familiarity and comfort of the Maine harness racing circuit this year, Jason Bartlett had an idea what a worthwhile first season as a driver outside the Pine Tree State would entail. The 27-year-old Windsor native decided to try his luck… Read More
Wednesday’s special meeting of the Maine State Harness Racing Commission actually produced two compromise agreements involving Bangor Raceway. In addition to the handshake deal between representatives of Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs that resulted in the addition of 14 race dates this summer and fall,… Read More
Driver, trainer, owner and announcer… There isn’t much Michael Cushing hasn’t done during his 23-year career in harness racing. For at least the foreseeable future, the Farmington native won’t be doing any of those things as he recuperates from back surgery at Bangor’s Eastern Maine… Read More
Forget the “track man” and veteran railbirds with a hot tip. For the last 15 years, the guy who literally had the inside track on Bangor Raceway was Arnie Van Dyne. That distinction will become someone else’s, however, now that Bangor Raceway’s longtime track superintendent… Read More
The horses are all fine and ready to race again, but one driver will be laid up awhile with a broken shoulder. Tim Nehila of Scarborough suffered the injury in a crash during Sunday afternoon’s fourth race at Scarborough Downs. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define… Read More
After nine canceled race dates, a nearly month-long postponement to the start of the season, and another two-week suspension of the season after one night of racing, harness racing will return to Bangor Raceway on Wednesday night. All the mud has been cleaned out of… Read More
Five postponements, nine canceled race dates, 24 days and innumerable man hours after it was supposed to open its 125th season of harness racing, Bangor Raceway appears ready to race. Officials think they’ve finally solved the frost and drainage problems that have created dangerously soft… Read More
Aspirations becoming a reality for Gardiner’s Hall 18-year-old victorious in commercial racing debut
It was the 10th victory of his young harness racing career, and unlike the other nine, it didn’t come with any prize money. So why does 18-year-old Ryan Hall consider it his biggest win? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var… Read More
BANGOR – Bangor Raceway has postponed its opening day of racing once again, this time due to a low number of racing entries. Instead of Friday night at 7 p.m., Bangor Historic Track will open Sunday at 1:30 p.m. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
Maine’s harness racing community has lost a near-institution with the recent death of longtime state steward and Corinna native Robert Smith Sr. Smith, who died at the age of 94 on March 22 at his home in Brewer, was appointed state steward in 1972 and… Read More
Upset was the word of the day at Scarborough Downs Sunday as all the big-money races were won by less heralded entries in the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes 3-year-old division championships. Leading off the string was Waldo, who won the 3-year-old colt trotting title in… Read More
While Bangor Raceway readies itself to open its second season of fall racing this weekend, Scarborough Downs is priming itself for the richest day of the season with the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes 3-year-old finals. Bangor opens its 11-day fall racing schedule with an 11-race… Read More
Three names familiar to people in Maine’s harness racing community will receive some regional recognition as well this week. Bangor Raceway race secretary Fred Nichols, horse trainer and owner Don G. Marean and Diann Perkins, president of the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, will… Read More
The fact there was any harness racing at all at the Union Fair grounds this week was something short of a miracle. Having a full slate of racing – with a few record times, no less – in this, the 106th racing season at the… Read More
Eastern Maine’s harness racing community lost a valued member, significant contributor, and loyal friend last week when Doug Clendenning died at the age of 87. The World War II veteran had many different work experiences. He worked for Bath Iron Works before joining the U.S. Read More
One Vine Lady is calling it a career after eight years in the racing business. Business has been pretty good for the 10-year-old standardbred mare that has literally been the standard bearer for the University of Maine equine studies and farming programs, but the decision… Read More
BANGOR – When Abby C trotted across the finish line in record time at Bangor Raceway Sunday, she brought smiles to lots of faces, but not just those with a direct rooting interest. Sure, the 6-year-old mare’s owner, trainer and driver were jubilant, but there… Read More
For the first time this year – and likely ever – a Maine harness racing track saw its entire Sunday race card turn in winning times under 2 minutes. “I couldn’t believe it,” said Mike Hitchcock, Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association director. “I’ve never seen it… Read More
Local youths will have a chance to find out firsthand what a career in harness racing, training or horse care is like as the Harness Horse Youth Camp returns to Bangor Raceway next month. The five-day camp is open to youths between the ages of… Read More
When Tara MacDonald of Corinth first heard about the job of grand marshal at Bangor Raceway, she thought it was a paid position. After checking into it, she found out it not only wasn’t a paid position, it didn’t even technically exist. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
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… Read More
They’re at the halfway point of their inaugural fall season of harness racing, and Bangor Raceway officials are hoping for a strong finish. “It’s kind of early to make any determination on what the fall handle numbers mean, but the fact that we’re having them… Read More
The opening weekend of fall harness racing brought a lot of people to Bangor Raceway Friday and Sunday, especially Sunday. “The weather was actually pretty good, but I think the real draw was the Family Fun Day,” said Bangor Raceway director of racing Fred Nichols. Read More
While Scarborough Downs is grabbing Maine’s harness racing spotlight with the running of the $300,000 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes finals Sunday, Bangor Raceway will also be a destination for those interested in harness racing, horses, and history. Bangor Raceway, normally quiet and fairly calm this… Read More
Normally, the pace car would already be tucked away in some garage, the stables would be nearly empty, and the track would be a pretty quiet place to hang out. That’s not the case this fall at Bangor Raceway as Bangor Historic Track will host… Read More
Jackpot! That’s what the operation of a slot machine and video poker casino in Bangor have been for state officials, especially those connected with Maine’s harness racing industry. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
Shane Bacon was not your average college student. Sure, he played varsity basketball, went to class most of the time, and chased girls, but while most of his fellow classmates at Green Mountain College were thinking about partying, he had other ideas. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
Two Bangor horses will be carrying impressive streaks into the 33rd annual MSBOA Stakes Finals races at Scarborough Downs Sunday afternoon. The richest day of the Maine harness racing season has more than $190,000 in purse money on the line. The feature events – the… Read More
If Maine’s harness racing industry is indeed on a major rebound due to the significant infusion of cash from Bangor’s Hollywood Slots casino operation, further evidence of that should come from an upcoming annual horse auction. The Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association/Pine Tree Sales… Read More
After three revisions and five months in the making, the Maine State Harness Racing Commission’s rules change to allow Maine-owned or Maine-bred harness races will become official. Monday morning marks the official realization of the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association’s goal to have exclusive races for… Read More
Thanks to a surprising surge in the supply of horses in particular and increased interest in the harness racing industry overall, fans may see even more race dates at Bangor Raceway next season. Although the average harness racing fan wouldn’t know it by looking at… Read More
AUGUSTA – The “trickle down” effect from the establishment of the Hollywood Slots casino in Bangor has become more of a steady rain of financial support for Maine’s harness racing community. Further evidence of this was presented at Thursday’s Maine State Harness Racing Commission monthly… Read More
They didn’t come back substantially richer in monetary terms, but Billy Hartt and Lisa Rossignol are certainly richer for their experience in the National Harness Handicapping Championship. Hartt, president of Hartt Transportation and a Carmel native, and Rossignol, a governmental administrative assistant from Old Town,… Read More
As the number of races and the value of race purses increase in Maine’s harness racing community, so may the temptation to cheat. The opening of Penn National’s Hollywood Slots casino in Bangor and the net revenue it has generated – 14 percent of which… Read More
It’s not uncommon for people to start cramming in regard to study time and homework this time of year. Billy Hartt and Lisa Rossignol have certainly done their share of it the last couple of weeks, but where most people’s cramming efforts usually revolve around… Read More
Anyone familiar with the Maine harness racing scene needs no introduction to Valerie Grondin. The Bangor native and University of Maine graduate has won nearly 500 races and has put together a very successful career as a harness racing driver, trainer and owner that has… Read More