2007 Archived News - Quarter #4 - October to December

12/16 - For the fourth year, we end the year with a survey for you to chose Hot Hands, Hooves and Barn of the year. Voting ends January 5, 2008. Please only vote once per person.

12/13 - KDK Standardbreds is proud to announce that 1998 Little Brown Jug and Cane Pace winner SHADY CHARACTER will stand the 2008 season at their Cumberland Center facility. Their new website is now available for you to see the quality stallions they will offer for 2008 at www.kdkstandardbreds.com.

12/13 - Rochester, NH Fair has announced that it has cancelled harness racing for 2008 and beyond. To read the article click here.

12/12 - The agenda for the Maine Harness Racing Commission meeting on Dec. 20 has been posted.

12/11 - KAMWOOD TONY A started the year off winning the first race of 2007 back in April, and STARBURST BLUECHIP ended the year, winning the last race of the season today at Scarborough. Its time to take a break, enjoy the Patriots, the holidays and the snow (unless you get to go to Arizona!) until January when Scarborough will hold an abbreviated Winter Meet for four weeks.

12/8 - Retirees and Award Winners feted at Scarborough Downs

12/7 - In to go on Saturday is RACE ME MOOSEHEAD from the Race Me Stables who has been listed in our classified ads as the new horse to add to your stable. Watch him race on Saturday at Scarborough Downs and be sure to check out our classified ads to find that next star of your stable!

12/7 - Scarborough Downs to honor retiring standardbreds on Sunday

11/29 - The 2008 MHHA membership applications and sulky insurance applications are now available by clicking here or on the banner above. Please be aware that you must read the sulky insurance user guide before submitting all applications as the program has been overhauled.

11/28 - GAINESVILLE GATOR went to the big city tonight and went wire to wire in 1:54.3 with Ron Pierce in the bike at The Meadowlands! Maine trainers can relax a little as he won't be headed back to Maine as he was also claimed for $15,000. Bill McElvain's THE FAKER N just ran out of track earlier in the night as Brian Sears was steering thru traffic and was just nosed out in 1:53.0. Kevin Switzer, Jr. made his Meadowlands debut tonight finishing a respectable fourth with FINANCIAL GLIDER.

11/27 - Congratulations to Tim Tetrick who eclipsed Walter Case, Jr's record of 1077 wins in a single season. It was done tonight at Dover Downs while driving STONEBRIDGE KISSES. Nine years ago, we were amazed when Casey captured 1000 wins in a season, which was a record at the time. Tony Morgan is the only other driver to amass 1000 wins in a season. While Tetrick still has a month to build on his record, we are a bit saddened to see the record that was held by a Mainer surpassed.

11/25 - BILLSBOYBOB and PINE MAGIC End Careers On Winning Notes

11/15 - The Maine Harness Racing Commission approved the 2008 Maine Sire Stake Schedule which we have posted.

11/15 - Congratulations to Bruce Ranger who joined the 7,000 club Wednesday night at Pompano Park. The Maine native steered DOPPLER EFFECT to the win in 1:58.3. Bruce ranks #4 on our career driver wins behind Case, Parker & Fitch. Fellow Pompano teamster David Ingraham rose to #5 on our list recently and is two wins away from #5700.

11/12 - The agenda for the next commission meeting on the 15th has been posted.

11/6 - Congratulations to Charlene Urquidez & Mike Cushing who got married on Saturday. You can click on the picture below of the wedding party for a larger picture.
 

11/6 - The MHHA has opened an office in Augusta at 185 State Street. The new address for the MHHA is PO Box 436 Augusta ME 04332-0436. The office phone number is (207) 623-MHHA(6442) and their fax number is (207) 623-6444. Office hours will be posted soon, but feel free to call and leave a message at the new office.

11/5 - The Harrisburg sale started today in Pennsylvania. We will keep track of how the Maine connections are doing.

11/1 - The Maine Harness Racing Commission met today to award the live racing dates for 2008. Two amendments were introduced and passed. They included Scarborough Downs racing in January 2008 and Northern Maine Fair asking for 10 extended dates of racing. The calendar for 2008 race dates has been posted here.

10/27 - The agenda for the Maine State Harness Racing Commission meeting on November 1 is posted.

10/25 - In Augusta today, the Sire Stakes Advisory Committee met to discuss the 2008 sire stakes schedule. While the schedule has not been approved, we can tell you that the 3 year old schedule closely resembles the 2007 schedule. The 2 year old schedule has major changes. The 2 year olds will start 2008 in mid July and will include more breaks between races. This will cumulate in a "Super Weekend", when all finals will be held on the same weekend in October in Scarborough. When the schedule is finalized, we will post it.

Later in the day, the Maine Harness Racing Commission held a "pre-conference" hearing to discuss racing licenses and race date assignments. Race dates were discussed and will be approved at the next meeting on Nov. 1. Some of the major changes include the following:
(1) Scarborough Downs racing in January. This is subject to negotiations currently underway between Scarborough and the MHHA. If Scarborough does race Saturdays and Sundays in January, they would drop to three days a week in October and two days in December to adjust for the January dates.
(2) Scarborough has dropped Mondays and Tuesdays and added Thursday and Friday. Racing in the spring would start in early April.
(3) Bangor Raceway kept the same number of days in 2008 but will stretch out the schedule by starting earlier in April and ending later in November. Their summer meet will be at three days a week, fall meet two days a week.
(4) Presque Isle has switched Sunday to Saturday during fair week. Presque Isle did not request any extended meet dates.
(5) Topsham Fair has switched its rain day from Tuesday to Thursday
(6) Oxford Fair has requested a new day in the Sunday before the normal Wednesday start.
We will post the 2008 schedule after approval from the Commission.

10/23 - Have you checked out the Classified Ads? We now have 15 horses listed from weanlings to race horses. If you are in the market to buy a new addition to your stable you should check out our classified ads.

10/21 - RAYS DILEMMA A succumbs due to injury.

10/20 - We missed a track record. MS JEANNE MARIE, a three year old filly trained by Eric Bickmore and owned by William McElvain, Jr. set a track record at the Farmington Fair during stakes action in 1:57.4. MS JEANNE MARIE was driven by Shawn Gray.

10/20 - The agenda for the Maine Harness Racing Commission meeting on October 25 has been posted.

10/15 - Sunday, October 14, 2007 Sir Beach Dragon paced to a new lifetime mark of 1:52 at Colonial Downs. Sir Beach Dragon, the son of Sweet Dragon, was a 2004 Graduate of the Maine Sire Stakes Program - winning the 3 year old final that year. He has gone on to campaign successfully, in Delaware, Pompano Park and Rockingham Park. Currently trained by Kelly Case and driven by David Ingraham, this was his 30th career win and puts his lifetime earnings above $150,000.Carolyn Corso remains his owner.