9/19 - Oxford Fair to award bonus to Gerald Kilgore, Jr. and Shawn Gray for setting all-age track record - From the Lewiston Sun Journal.

Gray/Kilgore to Receive Incentives from The Big “O"

Oxford, Maine: The final day of racing at The Big “O” Oxford Fair turned out a brand new track record as expected. What was somewhat unexpected was the race in which the record was set. Kevin Switzer Jr. had already set a new record on Sunday when Shady Sabrina clicked off a nifty 1:55:2 breaking the previous record of 1:56 flat. In the $4,000 winners over class on Saturday, Shawn Gray guided local horseman Gerald  Kilgore, Jr’s grey gelding Joe’s The Best to the lead and never looked back in a dazzling 1:54:4. Most spectators expected the new record would be broken again in the featured Big “O” Pace but the crack field could not best the homebred Joe’s The Best’s mark. As a result, the $2,500 bonus for breaking the track record will be awarded to both Kilgore and Gray respectively. The Big “O” would like to congratulate the connections on a great race and new track record.

The three year old trotting gelding DENNIS set a world record for sophomore trotting geldings on a half mile track yesterday in 1:53.3 at the Delaware, Ohio Fairgrounds during a division of the Old Oaken Bucket. DENNIS is trained by Maine native Roland "Polie" Mallar. Congratulations.

9/18 - A Maine connection to the Little Brown Jug - SHADOW PLAY was victorious in the Little Brown Jug today in a world record for 2 heats in 1:50.0 & 1:50.1. SHADOW PLAY is trained and partially owned by Dr. Ian Moore from Charlottetown, PEI. Dr. Moore has visited Maine on occasion to compete in invitationals in Maine, including ASTRONOMICAL who was in this year's Paul Bunyan at Bangor Raceway.

Two year old trotters visited Farmington Fair for the first time in recent history. CURRENT CLOSER established a track record for freshman trotting colts in 2:04.1 for driver Mark Athearn, trainer Donald Richards and owners Tom Dillon and Walter Hight. BAD BOY BILLY established a track record for freshman trotting geldings in 2:05.3 for driver/trainer Gordon Corey and owner Michael Andrew. PEMBROKE ANNIE established a track record for freshman trotting fillies in 2:07.0 for driver Heath Campbell, trainer Valerie Grondin and owner William Varney

9/17 -KANALLA BELLA broke the Farmington Fair track record for three year old trotting fillies today in 2:02.2 with trainer/driver Ivan Davies. KANALLA BELLA is owned by Michael Andrew. The old record held by RACE MY LYNN-MARIE of 2:02.4 was held for 11 years before today.

The Tim Fouts Memorial Pace is held for amateur drivers at the Delaware, Ohio Fairgrounds on their first day of racing. This year, the Maine Amateur Drivers Club sent Doug Beckwith as their representative. Due to the remnants of Hurricane Ike, the race was postponed until Monday. Doug Beckwith remained in Ohio to participate, but was handed some bad luck as the horse he was to drive broke at the start and had to be pulled up lame. The race was won by Mainer Todd Whitney as he was asked to participate  representing the Delvin Miller Amateur Association.

The agenda for the September 24 meeting of the Maine Harness Racing Commission has been posted.

9/15 - Congratulations to Benson Merrill who got his first win on Sunday at Farmington Fair behind JUDDY MUDDY who is trained and owned by his father, Judson Merrill.

 Lester Dancer, 82, father of Lester C. and Larry Dancer has passed away. Here is a link to his obituary.

9/14 - Clinton A. Conant, who owned, trained and drove harness horses from the 1970s to present day, has passed away. Our condolences go out to his family. Here is a link to his obituary.

9/13 - The last day of Oxford Fair provided some excitement and more track records over the speedy oval.
First race, first record, as NEUTRAL COURT kept his undefeated stakes record intact with a 1:59.2 victory which established a track record for two year old pacing geldings. NEUTRAL COURT is trained and driven by Michael Graffam for owners Pineholm Farm and Fox Ridge Stable.
Race Nine produced a track record for two year old colts as NEUTRALIZE paced the track in 2:00.4 with Drew Campbell in the bike for trainer Eric Bickmore and owners Ben Bill & Will Stable.
Then in Race 10, 2007 MSBS Champion JOE'S THE BEST toured the track in 1:54.4, establishing a new all age track record for pacers. JOE'S THE BEST was driven by Shawn Gray for trainer/owner Gerald Kilgore, Jr.
Race Eleven saw KEYSTONE NATALIE earn the track record for four year old pacing mares in 1:55.4 for driver Shawn Gray and trainer/owner Steven Vafiades. It was her second track record over the last two weeks.
Then in the Big "O" Invitational Pace, three year old pacing colt, THE AWFUL TRUTH paced to a 1:55.1 clocking. It was a track record at Oxford for three year old colts, and it was a state record also, erasing the mark set by OUT TO SCORE set at Lewiston Raceway in 1989, the oldest standing state mark on the pacing side. THE AWFUL TRUTH is owned by Mary Craig and trained by Heidi Rohr and was driven to victory by Drew Campbell.
14 new track records were set at Oxford Fair this year, including three state records; just a testament to the quality of the newest track in Maine.

9/11 - Track Records all over the place at The Oxford Fair. On Wednesday, UP TEMPO earned another track record as the three year old trotting gelding scorced the oval in 2:00.1 for driver/trainer Gordon Corey and owner Michael Andrew.
Next race on the card and KANALLA BELLA with driver/trainer Ivan Davies established a new track record for three year old trotting fillies in 2:02.2 for owner Michael Andrew.
In race 5, PEMBROKE BANDITO tied the track record for three year old colt trotters in 2:02.4 for driver Heath Campbell, trainer Valerie Grondin and owner William Varney. - All three marks were set by BOY BAND offspring.
On 9/11, BAD BOY BILLY started off the day with establishing a new track record for two year old gelding trotters in 2:04.1 for driver/trainer Gordon Corey and owner Michael Andrew.
PEMBROKE ANNIE established a new track record for two year old trotting fillies in 2:04.0 for the tandem of Campbell, Grondin & Varney
Later in the day, KEYSTONE DALLAS broke the track record for aged trotting geldings with a 2:00.3 win for owners Scott Dillon & Scott Pushard, trainer Joe Nelson and driver Shawn Gray.
Race #4 saw a new track record for four year old pacing horses as YOURAGAMBLER'SSON paced the mile in 1:57.3 for driver Mark Athearn, trainer Gretchen Athearn, and owner Brenda Deojay.
Then to end the day, SEASIDE YANKEE, a four year old trotting gelding owned by Bruce Inch, set a new all age track record in 1:59.0. It was also a State Record for four year old geldings. SEASIDE YANKEE was driven by Shawn Gray, and is trained by Rodney Grady.

9/7 - It was Ladies Day in the State of Maine as two mares at two seperate tracks equaled the fastest mile in Maine for the female gender. In Scarborough, KEYSTONE NATALIE with Brewer Adams circled the coastal oval in 1:55.2 for owner/trainer Steven Vafiades.
At the Oxford Fair, SHADY SABRINA went wire-to-wire in 1:55.2 with Kevin Switzer, Jr. holding the reins for owner Lorna Cohen and trainer Kevin Switzer, Sr. SHADY SABRINA's trip was also the all age record at Oxford Fair.
Also to note, Oxford held a successful horseman's lobster feed after the races and awarded a Ford Mustang to the Kennebec Pace Club in a raffle that was held for trainers and owners that entered horses for Sunday's card.

9/6 - The Maine Amateur Driver's meeting scheduled for Monday September 8 has been moved to the conference room at the Maine Farm Bureau in Augusta. A link to Mapquest for directions is here. The meeting is still at 6:00 p.m.

9/5 - SEASIDE YANKEE equals track record at Scarborough Downs

9/3 - Eddie Davis, Jr., a dominating driver in Maine during the 1990's, captured his 3,500 career win yesterday at Harrington Raceway in his home state of Delaware behind HOLME IN A MOMENT, who is trained by his wife, Janet. Congratulations!!

 Professional Drivers' Challenge to bring top US and Canadian Harness Drivers To Maine

     Jay Burns, former public handicapper and harness racing columnist for the Portland Press Herald and Lewiston Sun, will offer trackside commentary before each race at this year’s "Big O" Oxford Fair.
     "Every harness race forces a bettor to make dozens of decisions," Burns said. "Who’s going to cut the mile? Who’s going to get a trip? Who’s coming off a tough trip? I want to help the fans make better decisions by giving them a lot more information about the horses, drivers and trainers than what’s in the program."
     A 1981 graduate of Oxford Hills High School, Burns grew up in Waterford and has been a harness racing fan since childhood. "In high school, when we did our running before baseball practice, we’d jog down Beal Street pretending we were harness horses at Lewiston Raceway," he laughed. "I’m looking forward to seeing some of the same guys I played ball with — and still go to the races with — at the Oxford meet."
     Burns served as the public handicapper for The Portland Newspapers until 2006, when the paper cut the selections as a cost-saving measure. A past winner of the Maine Harness Horsemen's Association Media Award for "excellent reporting of harness racing in Maine," Burns wrote a weekly racing column for the Maine Sunday Telegram from 1988 to 1994 and prior for the Lewiston Sunday.
     The Oxford Fair offers harness racing Sept. 7 at 1:30 p.m.; Sept. 10, 11 and 12 at 3 p.m.; and Sept.13 at 1:30 p.m. The week’s highlight is the inaugural $25,000 Big "O" Open Pace on the closing Saturday and the sixth annual Charles Day Memorial Pace.
     Ensuring fast racing among the top horses, the track will give $2,500 to both the trainer and driver of the horse breaking the 1:56 track record held jointly by Eighth Wonder and Work Out.

8/30 - ME Harness goes dark - details on webmaster's page.

VELOCITY HALL, owned by Thomas Dillon and Walter Hight, won his second consecutive NYSS event tonight at Yonkers Raceway with Jason Bartlett driving. VELOCITY HALL had previously raced in the Hambletonian and Yonkers Trot for the Dillon/Hight connection. Click on the photo for a larger view.

The Big “O” Oxford Fair announces another exciting promotion for horsemen and women. On Sunday September 7, one lucky owner or trainer will win a beautiful 2000 Mustang convertible valued at $12,000. For every horse that races on the September 7 card, an entry in the drawing will be awarded to the trainer and the owner. At the end of the race day, one lucky winner will be chosen to ride away in the Mustang convertible. Thanks go out to Ripley and Fletcher of So. Paris for donating the vehicle.
All horsemen and women are reminded that they are also invited for a lobster and clam feed immediately following the races. Also, be sure to stick around for the free concert featuring American Idol Finalist Phil Stacey later in the evening. Please do not miss out on this exciting and fun day of racing at The Big “O”.

Heath Campbell posted a driving triple Friday at the Windsor Fair in Windsor Maine and in the process notched the 3000th victory of his young driving career.  Going into Friday's action, the 36 year old Campbell needed just one win to surpass the milestone and he wasted little time eclipsing the mark in the second race parading back MR PUNCH in a trip of 1:57.2 and  following that up with a score in a division of Maine Sires Stakes action for 3 YOPF with Pembroke Lu in 1:59.2 in race number five, and capped the afternoon off with a win in race six aboard Hurricane Emily in 1:57.1. Campbell recorded the first win of his driving career in 1989 at his adopted home track of Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard Lakeside Dusty - Patrick Eastwood

BAD BOY BILLY demolishes state of Maine record.

Bangor Raceway is currently accepting applications for their Track Supervisor. Click here for details.

8/27 - Two State Records were set today at Windsor Fair. The first one was the three year old filly KANALLA BELLA with driver/trainer Ivan Davies circling the oval in 2:01.0. The second one was three year old gelding UP TEMPO with driver/trainer Gordon Corey going in 1:59.4. Both Maine Sire Stakes participants are owned by Michael Andrew. Congratulations.

8/26 - The Maine Amateur Driving Club races set for Scarborough Downs on September 7 have been moved to the Oxford Fair to make room for the Driving Championship being held at the Downs. Conditions will be announced later. Horsemen are invited to a lobster and clam feed after the races.

8/24 - MAINEIAC MATT set a new state of Maine record for three year old colts today as he toured the Windsor Fair Oval in 1:55.1, eclipsing the mark set by DIDGERIDOO of 1:55.3 in 2002. MAINEIAC MATT is trained and driven by Mike Graffam and owned by William Arnold, Tim Arnold and P.R. Shaw.

8/22 - There will be a meeting of the Maine Amateur Driving Club on September 8 at 6:00 pm at the MHHA office in Augusta to discuss establishing by-laws. All members are encouraged to attend. Any questions, please feel free to email info@meharness.com.

The MSBOA Auction is coming up on October 13. The entry deadline is September 1st. Here is an entry form for all who would like to enter their horse.

The MHHA is holding fund raiser for the MHHA Scholarship during the month of November. A winner will be drawn every day during the month of November and the winner will get $25. Winners on the first and last day of the month will get $50. The donation for the raffle is $5. You have a chance to win all 30 days as your name will go back into the drawing . You can enter as many times as you want. Print off a calendar and sent it to the MHHA office or give to one of the board members.

8/21 - Congratulations to Drew Campbell who collected his 2000th win today at Scarborough Downs behind his classy pacer CC BAG A LUCK.

Union Fair is seeing its fair share of speed this year also. Today, ELM GROVE BANDIT set the track record for four year old horses for driver Shawn Gray, trainer Bo Sowers and owners Cassandra Fram and Allan MacNutt. Earlier on Sunday, Maine Sire Stakes standout MAINEIAC MATT set the track standard for three year old geldings in 1:59.1 for driver/trainer Mike Graffam and owners Arnold and Shaw.

8/20 - Congratulations to Christopher Nye who won his first race today at the Union Fair. The sixth drive of his career was a wire to wire victory behind MR PUNCH in 1:59.2 with a stretch drive challenge from a fast closing RD KAK and Shawn Gray.  The sixteen year old was cheered on from the paddock by his proud parents Shawn and Bobbi Nye. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick.

8/17 - Congratulations to Wally Watson, who captured his 1500th career driving win at Scarborough Downs behind KALMAKARI. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view of the winners circle celebration - Photo by Derek Davis.

Wallace Watson earns 1500th career win at Scarborough Downs

8/16 - RAIN TRAIN REPEATS IN HIGHT MEMORIAL IN TRACK RECORD FORM.
In a classic stretch drive between two class horses, RAIN TRAIN prevailed in a 1:54.1 finish in the Walter Hight Memorial. RAIN TRAIN, driven by Bobby Sumner set second behind Shawn Gray and IDEAL CONDITIONS through fractions of :27.4, :56.4, and 1:25.4 when announcer Lloyd Johnson told the crowd that the track record of 1:55.4 was in jeopardy. RAIN TRAIN pulled the pocket and the stretch drive was underway. Bob Sumner's seventh Hight victory was only a head in front of IDEAL CONDITIONS. Trained by Patricia Sumner, RAIN TRAIN is owned by Robert Sumner and Gary Paganelli. Click on the thumbnail for a larger picture. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick

Earlier in the day, NEUTRAL COURT set a new track record for two year olds in 1:59.0. Trained and reined by Michael Graffam, NEUTRAL COURT is owned by Fox Ridge Stable and the Pineholm Farm

8/15 - KEROGEN shatters State of Maine Record

NO PEEKING kept her freshman season going strong today as she set a new track record for two year old filly pacers at Skowhegan State Fair in 2:00.2. NO PEEKING is owned by the Ben Bill & Will Stable, trained by Eric Bickmore and driven by Drew Campbell.

8/14 - Union Fair is proud to announce that it will award a $500 bonus to the leading driver and trainer at its upcoming meet next week.

BAD BOY BILLY set a new track record for two year old trotting geldings today at the Skowhegan State Fair. Driven and trained by Gordon Corey, BAD BOY BILLY is owned by Michael Andrew.

8/13 - Two track records were set at Skowhegan State Fair today as the three year old trotters invaded. UP TEMPO continued his dominance in the colt division with a 3 year old gelding track record win in 2:01.0 for driver/trainer Gordon Corey and owner Michael Andrew. KANALLA BELLA grabbed a leg of the filly division with a 2:02.2 victory which tied the three year old filly track record. She was driven and trained by Ivan Davies, and is owned by Michael Andrew.

8/12 - On August 12, 1993 Shawn Gray visited the winner's circle as a driver for the first time at the Northern Maine Fair behind TIMER CHOICE. Fast forward 15 years and we find Shawn Gray in the winner's circle for the 1500th time at Skowhegan State Fair behind Tony Brannigan's HURRICANE EMILY. Congratulation to Shawn Gray! Click on the thumbnail for a larger view. Photo by Shelley Gilpatrick.

Some other milestones coming up. Wally Watson is 2 wins from 1500. Keep an eye on the Campbell brothers - Heath is at 2991 and Drew is at 1990 career wins. After that Gary Mosher is 35 wins from 5000 and Joey Mosher is 52 wins from 1000! We'll get the Career Driver wins updated soon. (There's too much racing going on just to keep up on current affairs!!!)

The Maine Harness Racing Commission scheduled for August 14 has been postponed until September 3, 2008. The agenda items will be addressed at that meeting.

8/10 - Speed ruled on opening day at Skowhegan State Fair as two track records were set. The first was by PEMBROKE BLITZ, a three year old gelding who went in 1:56.4 for owner William Varney, trainer Valerie Grondin and driver Heath Campbell. Then later in the day, L-N-A'S DREAM set a new mark for aged mares in 1:56.0 for owner Scott Dillon, trainer Richard Bartlett and reins man Shawn Gray.

The agenda for the Maine Harness Racing Commission Meeting on August 14 is posted here.

Topsham Fair received a new all age trotting track record on Saturday as MONTGOMERY HANOVER trotted the oval in 2:01.0 for owner/trainer Buddy Burke and driver Shawn Gray.

8/9 - Maine owned LIKEABATOUTAHELL captures the $50,000 Joseph Ricci Memorial Trot in 1:57.4.

8/7 - Field set for $50,000 Joseph Ricci Memorial Trot

8/6 - John "Brad" Alexander,74 has passed away. Read an obituary here.

Topsham Fair has cancelled Wednesday Racing. The whole card will be rescheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, August 7 with a Noon Post Time.

8/3 - DINK ADOO tied the fastest trot on a half mile track in Maine today at Scarborough Downs in 1:57.3 in the Joe Ricci Memorial Trot Series. DINK ADOO was driven by Robert Sumner and trained by Patty Sumner. It tied the all age track record at Scarborough Downs and is only outdone by GREYHOUND's 1:57.0 clocking at Old Orchard's Kite Track in 1939, which is in jeopardy next Saturday in the $50,000 Joe Ricci Series Final. SCORPION MOON was also impressive in a 1:58.0 clocking in the other division of the series.

DINK ADOO equals Scarborough Downs Track Record

8/1 - A mid-week track reconditioning at Northern Maine Fair produced its fifth new track record on Friday night as MAINEIAC MATT recorded a victory in 1:58.3 for trainer/driver Michael Graffam and owners William Arnold, Tim Arnold and P.R. Shaw. This year's meet produced eleven sub-two minute miles, the most in one meet for the storied oval.

7/31 -  Notice - Northern Maine Fair has changed its post time for Friday Night 7:00 pm to 6:00 pm

PEMBROKE PRIMO set a new track record for four year old mares at Northern Maine Fair tonight in the Jr. Invitational for Fillies and Mares in 1:59.0. She was steered around the half mile oval by Heath Campbell for trainer Valerie Grondin and owner William Varney.

7/30 - Congratulations go out to A CAPPELLA BELLA who set a new track record for two year old trotting fillies today at Northern Maine Fair in 2:08.2. A CAPPELLA BELLA is trained and driven by Ivan Davies and owned by Michael Andrew. It was her first lifetime start. Congratulations are also in order for BAD BOY BILLY who also set a track record for two year old trotting geldings in 2:05.4. He is trained and driven by Gordon Corey for owner Michael Andrew. Both of these youngsters are sired by BOY BAND. Three track records this month for BOY BAND and owner Michael Andrew, who also owns BOY BAND.

RUPERT RUPERT also rewrote the Northern Maine Fair record books today with a 1:57.0 clocking around the storied oval, which is the fasted by an aged gelding . RUPERT RUPERT is owned by Scott Dillon, trained by Joe Nelson and reined by Shawn Gray

7/28 - Arnold Van Dyne, 69 passed away yesterday. He was the track conditioner at Bangor Raceway, Windsor Fair and Farmington Fair. He received a Distinguished Service Award from Bangor Raceway earlier this season. His obituary is posted here. Condolences go out to Marilyn and their family.

7/27 - LIKEABATOUTAHELL posts track record performance in Ricci Memorial

Myron E. Phinney, 72, died Saturday, July 26, 2008, at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Myron was born in Edmunds on May 7, 1936, son of the late Harry and Thelma (Lingley) Phinney. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry during the Korean Conflict. Myron was employed as a truck driver with Grondin Trucking. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and horses. Myron was a member of the Harold T. Andrews Post #17 American Legion in South Portland, Maine Harness Racing Assoc., Maine Harness Horseman's Assoc., and was a Charter Member of H.H.I. Besides his parents, Myron was predeceased by a sister, Virginia Jones and her husband Cecil of Dennysville. Surviving are his companion, Ruth Huntley of Gorham; two sisters, Barbara Dinsmore and her husband Glen of Leominster, Mass., and Marjorie Burchill of Baring, a brother, Dana Lewis of Ossipee, N.H.; many nieces and nephews; and his best friend of 22 years, his horse Echo. A graveside service will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at Dennysville Cemetery. Arrangements by Mays Funeral Home, Calais & Eastport. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.maysfuneralhome.com.

7/26 - Torrid Teamsters rule at Scarborough Downs

7/25 - Warren Strout has passed away at the age of 87. For years Warren & his wife Lil, operated one of the top stables in the State of Maine. Sire stakes champions, track record holders & invitational horses proceeded to come out of the Strout Stable. Walter Case, Jr., David Ingraham and many others started their career in the employ of the Strout Stable. Warren was the MHHA Trainer Of The Year in 1980, and he and his wife received the MHHA Distinguish Service Award in 1996. He was part of Bangor Historic Track, Inc. who leased Bangor Raceway from the City of Bangor and eventually sold to Penn National. The legacy of Warren Strout will live long through the circles of Harness Racing; not just in Maine but across North America. Our condolences go out to his family. His obituary from the Bangor Daily News is here.

Eleven Lady Drivers Confirmed in The Mildred Williams Series for Sunday's Ladies' Day at the Races at Scarborough Downs

7/23 - Notice - Northern Maine Fair has changed its post time for Saturday from 2:00 pm to 1:00 pm