6/30 - The 2009 season of the Maine Sire Stakes opened today at Bangor Raceway with some familiar names hitting the winners' circle. Highlighting the afternoon was CURRENT CLOSER who set a track record for three year old colt trotters in 2:01.3. CURRENT CLOSER was driven by Mark Athearn, trained by Don Richards and is owned by Tom Dillon and Walter Hight.
BAD BOY BILLY continued his winning ways taking the second division of the colt trotters in 2:04.3 for trainer/driver Gordon Corey and owner Mike Andrew.
A CAPPELLA BELLA stayed undefeated in stakes action taking the filly division in 2:03.3 for trainer/driver Ivan Davies and owner Mike Andrews.
The three year old fillies take the Scarborough oval on Friday and the three year old colts hit Scarborough on Saturday

Friday marks the 35th anniversary of the first day of Maine Sire Stakes action. July 3, 1974 saw two divisions of the two year old pacers take to the Scarborough Downs racetrack with PERSUADABLE winning the first leg with trainer/driver Ray Ireland winning in 2:10.2 for a purse of $1,173. The other leg was won by YANKEE BEGONE and trainer/driver Ray Ireland in 2:09.4 for a purse of $1,328
Also on July 3, 1974, the two year old trotters race with MAR CON CAESAR winning with Dana Swett in the bike for $694. The mile was trotted in 2:24.4

6/28 - FOUR STARZZZZ JAWS, driving by Greg Bowden, scored the 1,000th sub two-minute mile recorded at Bangor Raceway today pacing the mile in 1:58.0.
The first sub two-minute mile was in 1987 by WALTZ ON JEFF in 1:58.1. There have been three dead heats, thus 1,003 horses have won at Bangor under two minutes, the most being claimed by RUPERT RUPERT, who has scored 12 of those miles.
83 drivers have gone the magic mile, with Heath Campbell scoring 133 of those (Shawn Gray is second with 132!)

6/27 - RODEO DU RUISSEAU paces the fastest mile of the season today at Scarborough Downs in 1:54.4

6/24 - The Maine Harness Racing Commission today approved Bangor Raceway's request to add July 8 & 15 and October 14, 21, 28 & November 4 to their racing schedule to make up for days missed earlier in the season. The commission also approved Scarborough Downs' request to increase their dashes to 12 on Saturdays and Sundays from this weekend to August 2, with the exception of dates where sire stakes will be held. Per last year's date hearings, all tracks have the option to add 2 dashes on days that sire stakes are held. Scarborough's paddock, which holds nine races, could be overwhelmed with 14 dashes, per the testimony given today. We have updated our calendar with these changes.

Scarborough Downs will hold qualifying races for three year olds only on Thursdays for the foreseeable future until there isn't a demand. This will co-exist with regular scheduled qualifiers that will be held on Saturday for any horse. Post Time for the Three Year Olds on Thursday will be at 2:00 pm

6/21 - Heroics displayed by MacDougall and Switzer at Scarborough Downs

6/20 - The agenda for the Maine Harness Racing Commission Meeting on June 24 has been posted.

Shawn Gray - He's A Fogger!!

6/19 - Scarborough Downs has moved qualifying races from Thursday to Saturday to make way for the 2 Year Old Learn & Earns on June 25 and July 2. Post Time is still at 1:30 pm. They will return to Thursdays after the Learn & Earns.

6/14 - Don Marean's final Legislative Update from this year's session has been posted.

6/12 - Commission urging tracks to ban dogs - from the Bangor Daily News

6/7 - A new Legislative Update from Don Marean has been posted.

Lavish Jen scores fifth straight win at Scarborough Downs

6/5 - Skill and a Little Luck Earn Campbell Five Scarborough Wins

6/4 - Drew Campbell Dominates at The Downs

6/2 - The agenda for the Maine State Harness Racing Commission meeting on June 10 has been posted.

5/30 - Rupert Rupert : Back to Back Fast Class Winner at Scarborough Downs

5/29 -Drew Campbell five time the best at Scarborough Downs.

Gary Mosher was also on fire at Bangor Raceway as he visits the winner's circle five times also on the nine race card.

5/27 - Kristen Bartlett has made a video of pictures taken during the World Driving Championship. It can be found by following the race videos tab on the World Driving Championship page

5/26 - Billy Parker, Jr.: Driving through life's pain

5/25 - Competitive Fires Still Burning in Georgia Pacific

5/24 - KEROGEN scorched the Bangor Raceway oval today, setting a new trotting track record of 1:57.3.  KEROGEN was driven by Kim Ireland, trained by wife Wendy Ireland and owned by Lew Hayden.

Some Interesting facts:

The mile erased Bangor Raceway's all age record held by KIWI DEMAND of 1:58.1!

It is the third mile in the state at 1:57.3 on the trot. The other two were at Scarborough by DINK ADOO in 2008 and FRIENDLY FACE in 1988.

KEROGEN now holds three spots in the eleven fastest miles trotted in Maine.

It is 1/10 of a second off the State Record of 1:57½ set by GREYHOUND at the kite track at Old Orchard Beach. Although GREYHOUND's mark was set during a time trial in 1939, this website still considers that to be the State Record (just because it was GREYHOUND, the world's most famous trotter!). Click here for a photo!

It was KEROGEN's fifth start of the season for the six year old. GREYHOUND's mark is in jeopardy!!

Bangor Raceway and Scarborough Downs both hold claim to the fastest pacing mark (1:52.4) and trotting mark (1:57.3) in the state of Maine, with the exception of GREYHOUND's 1:57½ mark mile.

5/23 - Freedoms Call Marches to Victory at Scarborough Downs

5/22 - Dirigo Pacing Series Underway at Scarborough Downs

5/21 - Canadian Connections Score at Scarborough Downs

5/20 - A new legislative update by Don Marean has been posted.

5/19 - Learn & Earns for two year old have been tentatively scheduled for June 23 and June 28 at Bangor Raceway. Scarborough Downs have scheduled their Learn & Earns for June 25 and July 4. More detail will be posted as they come available.

5/15 - Jason Bartlett won his first race in the World Driving Championship today in Norway. His other three races were not as successful and he is in eighth place after two days of competition. Unfortunately, our diary entry from Kristen Bartlett will be delayed because of technical difficulties. We will get it posted as soon as possible.

Kerogen talks tough and delivers at Scarborough Downs.

5/14 - Wallace Watson has been tapped to fill the vacant seat on the board of directors of the Maine Harness Horsemen's Association.

5/11 - Jason Bartlett and his wife Kristen will leave tomorrow for Norway to compete in the 2009 World Driving Championship. We will have all the news about the trip, including insights from Kristen Bartlett as she travels with Jason to Norway. The link is at the top of the page. Follow the journey with us as we wish Jason the best of luck in Norway. Be sure to check in frequently as we will be updating frequently.

5/10 - Bangor Raceway opens for it's 126th season.

5/9 - Ideal Conditions overcomes foggy conditions at Scarborough Downs.

5/6 - Official Notice still going strong at age 18.

5/5 - For those who are going to race at Bangor Raceway, please be aware of all the road construction that is happening on the roadways and prepare accordingly so that you are not late. Two major bottlenecks are the I-295 project currently in the Brunswick area that is down to one lane and the two bridge construction projects in Bangor. I-295 will eventually be northbound only from Topsham to Gardiner around June 15, with southbound being detoured like last year. The Bangor construction involves the I-395 interchange and the Hammond Street Bridge. There is also construction on the Etna Dixmont bridge which is down to one lane both north and south bound.

5/3 - A new legislative update from Don Marean has been posted.

Pantomimist shines in starring role at Scarborough Downs.

5/2 - 2007 Maine Sire Stakes graduate BOOGEYMAN set a new lifetime mark tonight at the Meadowlands with a 1:52.4 clocking with Daniel Dube driving for trainer David Pinkney, Jr.

Velocity Hall defeats Kerogen at Scarborough Downs

5/1 - Fred Leighton, 68, has passed away. His obituary is here. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 4, at 11 a.m. at Weston-Chandler Funeral Home, 26 West Dwinal St., Mechanic Falls. Family and friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. Interment will be later at the Maine Veterans' Cemetery in Augusta. Donations may be made to the Maine Horse and Harness Association, Scholarship Fund in memory of Fred Leighton, P.O. Box 436, Augusta, ME 04332-0436. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.westonchandler.com.

4/30 - Heath Campbell scores four at Scarborough Downs

4/28 - The MSBOA is sponsoring an Informational Seminar on Mare and Foal Nutrition. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, May 6 at 7:00 pm at the Southern Maine Veterinary Care offices at 1445 Alfred Road in Lymon. The guest speaker will be Dr. Tania A. Cubitt, who is an equine nutritionist from Virginia Tech University. The event is open to the public and there is no cost. Any questions can be directed to Diane Perkins at (207) 625-3281 or Dr. Douglas Hutchins at (207) 449-7244

4/27 - Howard Small, 93, passed away on April 15. Mr. Small was involved in pari mutual wagering at the Kite Track in Old Orchard Beach and many fairs. He also owned MR DOW JONES, who was the pacer of the year in 1987 and won the Mountain Skipper Invitational in 1987. He was also well known for his storytelling which he would share with anyone that would lend an ear.  His obituary can be found here.

4/25 - Mr Nice Guy wins speed show at Scarborough Downs

4/24 - Velocity Hall Tours Scarborough Downs Oval in 1:59.3

4/22 - World Champion Georgia Pacific In To Go Saturday at Scarborough Downs.

Bangor Raceway had added an additional day qualifying races on April 30 with a 6:00 pm post time.

4/21 - Velocity Hall to race at Scarborough Downs

4/19 - Drew Campbell spins five-win performance at Scarborough Downs

4/18 - Mr Nice Guy overcomes Ideal Conditions at Scarborough Downs

4/17 - Kerogen slays The Mighty Dragon at Scarborough Downs

A new legislative update from Don Marean has been posted.

4/16 - Citing a lack of time to devote to the position, Gary Mosher has resigned from the MHHA Board of Directors. Information on finding his replacement can be found by following this link.

4/15 - Bangor Raceway will hold qualifiers on May 4th and 6th with a 6:00 pm. post time. They have also updated their Late Closer Schedule which can be seen above. There were no changes to the conditions, just the dates of competition.

4/11 - Nice Guys finish first at Scarborough Downs

4/10 - Scarborough Downs celebrates its 59th opening day.

4/9 - Scarborough Downs prepares for opening day tomorrow

4/6 - Bangor Raceway delays Opening Day until May 8th.

4/3 - There will be a meeting for members of the Maine Amateur Driving Club Saturday morning (April 4) at 9:00 am in the paddock at Scarborough Downs. Anyone with questions or concerns are urged to attend.

Scarborough Downs Marshall Horse succumbs to laminitis.