2006 Archived News - Quarter #3 - July to September

9/26 - Congratulations to 16 Year Old Ryan Hall who captured his first pari mutual race today behind DANIEL at the Cumberland Fair in 2:01.0

9/25 - OK, lets get up to date. From day three at Oxford Fair:
  - READY FOR THE TRIP set a new track record for trotting aged horses in winning the Pine Tree Fair Classics Galaxy Division in 2:00.4 for driver Heath Campbell, trainer Mike Girouard and owner Michael Cebula
  - EARL OF PEMBROKE tied the track record for three year old colt trotters in 2:02.4 for driver Heath Campbell, trainer Val Grondin and owner Bill Varney
  - HELD CLOSELY, driven by Heath Campbell for trainer Stan Whittemore and owner Deb Whittemore, set a track record for two year old fillies in 2:02.3
  - PEMBROKE TOUCH set a track record for three year old gelding pacers in 1:58.4 for the Campbell, Grondin, Varney connection

From Day four at Oxford Fair
  - VINATERI set the track record for 4 year old gelded pacers in 1:58.0 for driver Brent Thayer, trainer Robert Simmons, Jr. and owner Billy Hartt
  - WORK OUT, driven by Heath Campbell, trained by Val Grondin and owned by John Baker, set a new track record for aged geldings in 1:56.0 and tied the all age track record also held by EIGHTH WONDER from last year.

Sunday at the Farmington Fair
  - TEAM JARDIN captured the track record for two year old colts in 2:01.2 for the Maine Prime Time Stable and driver/trainer Gary Mosher

Tuesday at the Farmington Fair
  - DRAFT CHOICE set the track record for aged pacing geldings in 1:56.3 for driver Charlene Urquidez, trainer Rick Cushing and owners Philip Cote and Jack Novia
  - PACIFIC JERRY set the track record for four year old geldings in 1:57.1 for driver Heath Campbell, trainer Bernard Fournier and owner Bill McElvain, Jr.

Wednesday at the Farmington Fair
  - P T'S EASY, driven and trained by Drew Campbell set an all age mares track record in 1:57.4. Drew owns P T'S EASY with William Foti

9/15 - The Maine State Harness Racing Commission will meet on September 26, 2006. The agenda for that meeting is posted by following this link.

9/14 - Day two at Oxford Fair, let's see what happened - more track records!!
  - SLATED FOR SUCCESS set the all age track record for trotters going in 1:59.1. The old mark was held by OPAL set last year. SLATED FOR SUCCESS was driven by Greg Bowden for owner/trainer Francis Tambolleo. It was also a seasonal mark for aged mare trotters.
  - In race 1, ALL NIGHT TRICK tied the track record for aged geldings in 1:58.2 only to have it broken in race 2 by ROYAS ROMEO in 1;58.0 for Jason Bartlett, driver; Randy Bickmore, trainer; and Gerald Smith, owner.
  - Then came LUCKY'S REPORT in race 9 and set the new mark at 1:56.4 for aged geldings for driver/trainer Shawn Gray and owners Clark & Wayne Davis
  - DANIEL came along to tie the record for aged geldings at 1:56.4 for Drew Campbell and owner/trainer Craig Hall
  - LANDMARK PRECIOUS, undefeated in stakes action, set a lifetime mark and a track record for three year old fillies in 1:58.2 for driver Irv Mauran, trainer Cheryl Mauran and owners Joseph Palmeri and Irv Mauran
  - YEA-MEL captured the track record for aged horses by going in 1:58.0 for Greg Bowden, Mike Hitchcock and Bill Dunton. The previous record of 1:59.4 was held by DO RUN MIKE.
  - All visitors to the winner's circle set seasonal marks for Maine tracks.

9/13 - Oxford Fair starts off where it ended last year - breaking track records!! Two were broken today and two first time records were established.
   - POP N PAULA set the new track record for three year old fillies in 2:04.4 for Gary Mosher and Sheridan Smith. The old record was 2:07.2 set by SPECIAL MOVE last year.
  - FOUR STARZ PRINCE set a new mark of 1:58.2 for four year old horses for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Frank Withee and owner Jane Holmes. The old mark 1:59.0 was held by RESERVED, set last year.
  - FORWARD MOMENTUM established the track record for three year old trotting geldings, trotting the mile in a lifetime mark of 2:03.2 for driver/trainer Gordon Corey and owner Mike Andrew.
  - DA PRINCESS became the first two year old to win a race at Oxford Fair, establishing a track record two year old pacing fillies in 2:03.2 for driver Alex MacDonald, trainer Alison MacDonald and owners Shirley Huff and Sonja MacDonald.

9/10 - PERCEE ANGUS, driven by Gary Mosher, won the winners over for fillies and mares at Scarborough today at 1:55.1 and set the state track record for mares. PERCEE ANGUS is owned by Michael Cayouette and James Christensen for trainer Gary Mosher.

BOOGEYMAN wins the Maine Sire Stakes Final for 2 Year Old Colt Pacers for driver Steve Mahar, trainer Allie Hiscock and owners Lynda Douglas and Franklin Hiscock. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick

Joey Mosher brings KEY TO LAHART to the winner's circle in the Maine Sire Stakes Final for 2 Year Old Filly Pacers for owner Brent Olson and trainer Scott Blackler. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick.

Bill Varney's PEMBROKE FORWARD, from the Valerie Grondin Stable, and driven by Heath Campbell,  wins the 2006 Maine Sire Stakes Final for 2 year old colt trotters. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick

PEMBROKE MATRON wins the Maine Sire Stakes Final for 2 year old filly trotters for Varney, Grondin & Campbell. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick

9/4 - YANKEE ANTHEM wins the 2006 edition of the Windsor Fair Invitational over a muddy track in 2:01.2 for driver Steve Mahar and owner/trainer Bernard Charlton. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick

9/1 - The Finals of the Maine Sire Stakes for Two Year Olds will be held on Sunday, September 10 at Scarborough Downs. Base Purse for the finals for the two year olds was announced today to be $45,000. Estimates for the three year old finals in October may reach $75,000.

A fast day at the Windsor Fair as all nine winners set seasonal marks within the State of Maine.

8/22 - Please Note New Post Time for Union for Friday is 2:00 pm

8/19 - The 2006 edition of the Walter Hight Invitational was won by Scott Dillon's ARTCHIE ANDREWS in the time of 1:55.4 for driver Jason Bartlett and Trainer Sonia Bartlett. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick

8/19 - The Maine Amateur Driving Club is heading to Plainridge Raceway for some friendly competition with The New England Amateur Driving Club. The event occurs on Tuesday, August 22. Representing Maine are Paul Bresciani, Bill MacDonald, Joe Burke, Tom Beckwith, Todd Whitney, and Bob Gray. The next local action will be at The Union Fair on Saturday, August 26. I urge all eligible drivers to come out and join the fun. We will draw the name of the representative of our club to go to The Tim Fouts Memorial Race in Delaware, Ohio at Union on Saturday. - Buddy Burke

8/17 - There are some rule changes concerning Maine Owned and Maine Bred and other rule that will go into effect on August 21, 2006. To read these new rule changes follow this link

8/12 - Congratulations to Joe Burke who won the first leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club today at Topsham Fair behind BALLYJAMESDUFF N, going the mile in 2:02.3.

8/11 - Topsham Fair has a brand new all age track record on the trot as the classy mare SNAP DANCER went the mile in 2:01.3 to erase the old standard set by CURRENT CAST of 2:01.4 in 1999. SNAP DANCER was driven by Greg Bowden, trained by Fred Ward, and owned by Bruce Bridgham.

8/10 - Congratulations to Kevin Pillsbury, who recorded his first driving victory today at Topsham Fair behind HOLLYWOOD HALL.

8/9 - Maine State Harness Racing Commission Agenda for August 16 Meeting

8/8 - Congratulations to Joseph Douglas who recorded his first driving victory aboard DR DALOOOOOOZEE in his third career drive at the Topsham Fair on Tuesday afternoon.

8/8 - Topsham Fair has scheduled the first leg of the Maine Amateur Driving Club for Saturday, August 12. Please check the condition sheet for details.

8/7 - The MHHA has written a letter to the management of Scarborough Downs concerning removal of the hub rail following a tragic accident Friday night which directly involved the stationary hub rail. According to the letter, track management has to respond to MHHA's request by Wednesday night.

8/4 - CHEWY GROSS, winner of this year's Paul Bunyan Invitational at Bangor Raceway went north of the border to Woodstock NB and won the Robert McCain Invitational in 1:54.0 setting a new track record for New Brunswick. Last year JASON'S JIFFY set the mark at 1:54.1 in the McCain after he won the Paul Bunyan. Coincidence??? CHEWY GROSS is going north again next to compete in the Gold Cup and Saucer, as did JASON'S JIFFY.

8/2 - The Maine Amateur Driving Club's competition with Plainridge's club has been set for August 22. The conditions are non-winners of $200 per start average or non-winners of $300 per start average. Paul Verette said he would add claimers (if necessary) or adjust conditions in order to host the event. I need to hear from all drivers interested in going (asap) in order to organize the event. You can get licensed at the track. The more the better. - Buddy Burke 743-2979 or buddy.burke@verizon.net

7/31 - The Maine Amateur Driving Club is gearing up for the 2006 season. The first fair starts Friday night in Presque Isle. This year we adopted (2) classes for our club: 1. non-winners of $200 per start average for the last 10 starts or $3000 claimers 2. non-winners of $300 per start average for the last 10 starts or $5000 claimers. This year we joined the USTA amateur club; which allows us to address our club on their web site and also to send a member to Delaware, Ohio to participate in the Tim Fouts Memorial Race for amateur drivers the week of The Little Brown Jug. There is a five dollar fee to become a member of the Maine Amateur Driving Club which is payable to Buddy Burke at l46 East Main Street--South Paris, Me 04281P. S. I am working on a competition with Plainridge for late in August with them coming to Scarborough late in October--so let me know if you are interested and what ya got. Phone 743-2979 E-mail buddy.burke@verizon.net

7/23 - CHEWY GROSS set a new track record for aged geldings at Bangor Raceway as he won the $20,000 Paul Bunyan Invitational in 1:53.4. Drew Campbell drove CHEWY GROSS for trainer Jamie Smith and owner Martin Scharf. The mile was the second fastest mile at Bangor Raceway and the third fastest mile in the state of Maine. The biggest crowd of the season at Bangor bet $67,986 on the 12-dash card. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick

7/21 - HIGHWAY HANOVER trotted his way into Scarborough Downs record books tonight by trotting the 3rd fastest mile by a trotter in 1:58.0. He set the new track standard for aged geldings, surpassing the old standard set by SUPER SPEEDY in the Legislator Trot in 1989. HIGHWAY HANOVER is owned by Scott Dillon of Anson, ME, driven by Jason Bartlett and trained by Scott Blackler.

7/21 - All horsemen please read!!! This is a letter written by the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of Maine to its members. While the SPHO mission is commendable, they are suggesting some extreme changes to how harness racing is done in the state of Maine. As an owner, trainer, breeder, driver or groom it is important to educate yourself on what changes the SPHO would like to make and make your views known to your MHHA representative.

7/20 - Field set for the $20,000 Paul Bunyan Invitational Sunday at Bangor Raceway.

The agenda for the next Harness Racing Commission is posted here.

7/13 - Horsemen that plan on going north to the Northern Maine Fair in Presque Isle that are looking for stalls are encouraged to contact Wendell or Joy Duncan at (207) 227-9147.

7/10 - The Annual Summer Meeting of the MSBOA will be held on Monday, July 17, 2006 in the Winner's Circle Lounge at Scarborough Downs with the business meeting starting at 3:30 PM and social hour and dinner starting at 4:30 PM. Keynote speaker will be former Maine Commission Chairperson Joseph P. Kenneally.

7/9 - Scarborough Downs recorded its 2,500 sub-two minute mile on Saturday night when RANCHER crossed the wire in 1:59.1 for the RAM Racing Stable and driver Jason Bartlett.

7/5 - Congratulations to Kenny Watson, who collected his 1st career driving win aboard OUTA MY WAY LADIES at Scarborough Downs tonight.

7/3 - William Parker, Jr, who started his career in Maine before relocating to New York captured his 9,000 win yesterday aboard NEVER LOOK BACK today at his home base of Monticello Raceway. Congratulations to "Zeke" Parker!

Photo by racehorsephoto.com