October 22, 2009 - by Bill MacDonald - A vocal crowd of MHHA members met in the Cumberland Room of the Augusta Civic Center today to discuss proposed racing dates for 2010 from Maine's two commercial tracks. The main concern facing horsemen is a decrease in racing days from both Scarborough Downs and Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway in Bangor.

Scarborough Downs has planned for an April 10th opening day. Their schedule consists of 107 racing days during their season, which is a decrease of 22 days, down from 129 in 2009. Bangor's commercial track has slated May 15 as their opening day with 51 live racing days, a decrease of 10 days from 2009.

The horsemen met with the MHHA board of directors to discuss many issues. At the forefront was the decrease in the schedule and the winter layoff of 15 weeks during the winter. Horsemen stated that the layoff will force owners to sell their horses because the layoff would cause a financial burden that they cannot afford. Other issues discussed were track conditions, post times, and negotiation strategies.

The horsemen voted for the MHHA board of directors to continue to negotiate with the two commercial track to increase the 2010 proposed dates with both commercial tracks.

"It was a very positive meeting." said MHHA president Tim Powers.

"It was obvious that people were speaking from the heart and equally obvious that all loved harness racing. The horsemen are unified in their resolve." said MHHA executive director Chandler Woodcock.

The first meeting with the Maine State Harness Racing Commission to discuss race dates will be next Wednesday, October 28, at 2:00 pm. This will be a pre-hearing conference where all licensees meet to discuss the proposed 2010 race dates and any license issues.

The MHHA is adamant that as many horsemen that are opposed to the 2010 proposed dates plan on attending this meeting. A large turnout of horsemen will let the commission see the opposition to these dates and be more willing to tell the commercial tracks to negotiate with the horsemen on race dates that make both sides happy.

2010 Scarborough Downs Proposed Race Dates

2010 Bangor Raceway Proposed Race Dates