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Rays Dilemma A Succumbs
Michael M. Sweeney for Scarborough Downs
Scarborough, Maine – Rays Dilemma A was humanely destroyed on Sunday (10-21) afternoon after suffering catastrophic injuries during the seventh race at Scarborough Downs.
The
fourteen-year-old pacer took a bad misstep just past the
quarter-mile-marker -- shattering his right front pastern -- and was
pulled up in the second turn by veteran driver and part-owner Drew
Campbell. “As soon as I got him pulled up it became apparent what
Rays Dilemma A was the fourteen-year-old son of Resonator and the only foal out of the Gliding Light mare, Sue Bonny Sue. He was owned in concert by Todd Whitney and Jacqueline Graffam of Auburn and Drew Campbell of Scarborough, Maine. Bred by Neil, Raymond and Anne Grubb of New South Wales, Australia, Rays Dilemma A won 52 races from 197 starts with lifetime earnings totaling $166,365. Racing toward mandatory retirement, the Aussie-bred was enjoying a career-type year in 2007 earning eight trips to the winner’s circle with 18 top-three-finishes from 25 seasonal starts.
Rays Dilemma A
had obtained near cult-hero status earlier this season at
Scarborough Downs – attracting national attention by winning
“It’s been a melancholy day around here as we adjust to the loss of Rays Dilemma” reflected Higgins who also serves as Marketing Director at Scarborough Downs, “We were extremely fortunate to have been able to watch him race at the Downs and all our warm thoughts and wishes go out to his connections”.
Scarborough Downs proudly features live harness racing every Saturday through Tuesday afternoon throughout the fall season. First post time is 12:05 pm (EDT).
PHOTO ONE CAPTION – Rays Dilemma A basks in the limelight of the Farmington Fair winner’s circle following his final career win on September 17, 2007. – Photo credit – Shelley Gilpatrick.
PHOTO TWO CAPTION – Rays Dilemma thunders down the stretch at Scarborough Downs on May 27, 2007 posting the sixth of seven consecutive wins as a fourteen-year-old. – Photo credit EJS Photography
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happened” remarked a visibly shaken Campbell, “But he showed his
class right to the end. A lesser horse would have fallen after
suffering that kind of injury. “If there was any way we could have
saved him we would have” Campbell continued, “But the injury was
just too severe. He was our favorite horse in the barn and was all
set to retire following the Scarborough meet. His loss is tragic and
we’ll all certainly miss him”.
seven
consecutive races -- and rating his own personal section on the
Scarborough Downs website where his fans could check on the weekly
exploits of “Maine’s own Sea Biscuit”. One week prior to his death,
Ray’s Dilemma A was honored by the New England chapter of the United
States Harness Writers receiving a special recognition award from
chapter vice president Susan Higgins.