The Walter Hight Invitational at Skowhegan State Fair may not have the richest purse in Maine, but the Blue Ribbon Fair has been running the memorial race since the mid 1970’s and is the longest running invitational in Maine. It can now boast of the fastest race in Maine by virtue of a 1:52.3 clocking by Rodeo Du Ruisseau in the 2010 edition

With Drew Campbell controlling the reins, Rodeo Du Ruisseau was first off the gate while getting pressure from All Pro Hall (Ron Cushing) and rail-sitter Roman Conqueror N (Kevin Switzer). Campbell was determined to cut the mile and pushed Rodeo Du Ruisseau to get the rest of the field sitting behind him.

A 27.0 first quarter was recorded and Campbell went to work to give Rodeo Du Ruisseau a breather. “I thought if I could get a breather for 3/8th of a mile I’ll be fine. Then I saw the timer at 55.2. It felt like I got there cheaper than that” said Campbell.

At the 5/8th pole, All Pro Hall pulled from the pocket and went after the leader, dueling to the three quarter pole at 1:23.4, with All Pro Hall getting a slight lead.

But Rodeo Du Ruisseau did not give up. The two horses were neck to neck around the final turn “We were on an all-out drive. We were real tight coming around the last turn, and it was a slugfest down the stretch. My horse was so tough, he just kept digging in”.

Rodeo Du Ruisseau crossed the finish first by a neck over All Pro Hall in 1:52.3 shocking Campbell. “When I saw the timer I just could not believe it, I almost fell out of the bike!”

The 1:52.3 timing erased the mark set by Hotrod Falcon’s 1:52.4 mile in the 1993 President’s Pace at Scarborough Downs. It was equaled by Chewy Gross in 2007 in the Paul Bunyan Invitational.

Rodeo Du Ruisseau is owned by Sharon Spaulding & Dick Robertson, Sr. of Limington ME. Last week he set a track record at Scarborough Downs in 1:54.0