Thoughts on Finals Day at Scarborough Downs
Bill MacDonald, Webmaster
September 12, 2011
We had the tape recorder out Sunday at Scarborough Downs as the Two Year Old Finals of the Maine Sire Stakes took place. Here's what folks had to say about a variety of things.

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon. - Dude Goodblood on the atmosphere of Finals Day.

I've got a chance, it’s a tough group. I got the three hole and this colt has made breaks before. Last week, by taking him back, did more harm than anything, he just got a little hot and foolish. So if he behaves himself behind the gate today, I just going to launch him off the gate, maybe get a retake from the #1 horse (Denver Cyclone) and get a two hole trip.  I don’t think I can beat these guys, but if I’m in contention, he’s fast enough. You can’t win if you don’t play! - Drew Campbell speaking about Fast Ben in the Two Year Old Colt Pacing Division

I think there is going be a lot of early speed, hopefully it pans out, she hasn’t been as sharp since she got into that little mishap at Skowhegan, so hopefully she’ll overcome it today, get some luck and get to the winner’s circle. - Heath Campbell speaking about Pembroke Cuddles's chances in the Two Year Old Filly Pacing Division

Really well, doing good, great spirits, so far whatever tests have been done have come back good. He goes back in Tuesday for what he thought was a checkup, they have told him to prepare to stay for a second round. That wasn’t a bad thing; actually the fact that they figured he could do it sooner is a good sign. So far so good, all that we can expect. - Mike Cushing on how his father, Rick Cushing is doing after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

I think we’ve got as good a chance as anybody. Gerry and Flo have done a good job managing this horse to get to today. You can make a case for several of the colts in this final, every one of them has a legitimate shot. Unfortunately we didn’t draw the post we wanted, we wanted to be inside Denver Cyclone. Somebody will win, hopefully it will be us. - Greg Bowden speaking about Jimmy Whizbang

I think the draw worked out real good for me, I think my best one got the two hole (Lollipop Kid), next best one got the six hole (I’mamainecharacter) and the problem child (Poppy Was Right) got the eight hole and I’m driving the problem child! - Kevin Switzer on his three training entries in the Two Year Old Colt Pace Division

Actually, I didn’t watch her when the gates folded, I don’t like to watch the start of the race with trotters, especially from the rail, but we always knew she had some talent, she just got hurt just before she got to the races and took a shot to get her back. - George Bullukian, owner of One Little Star who won the two year old filly trot division.

So far, it’s been great. You run a lot of classes that we don’t run in Kentucky. We brought 12 trotters and 4 pacers, and they run about 2 or 3 classes trotting classes for the week (in Kentucky), so up here we’re getting to race every day which is great. People are so friendly, which I really didn’t expect. People are real friendly and they help you out, a lot of nice people here. We’re going to stay here to the end of the meet and come back at the end of March - Michael Kravchak on his experience in Maine since transplanting from Kentucky a couple of weeks ago.

The breeders, owners, trainers, and drivers worked really hard to develop superstar horses in the Stakes program. We promote them that way and we really feel that when the fans come out to the racetrack they expect to be able to wager on these horses and we give them that opportunity. We do have to safeguard the racetrack’s interest and we do that by calling off show wagering often. In the case of Pembroke Picture who may be an obvious winner, we’ll call off the place wagering. It give the fans the change to wager on the horses to win. Also we try to put these types of races in the first half of the daily double so they’ll have the opportunity to wheel horses. The commission is higher for the exotic wagers that the straight wagers, so any money we end up losing in the straight wagers by not allowing show wagering is made up in the exotics. - Mike Sweeney on why Scarborough Downs won't bar an obvious winner from wagering.