Real horses wear pink! With October being breast cancer awareness month, Scarborough Downs is doing its part to raise awareness and funds by holding the first-ever Drive for the Cure Weekend, Saturday and Sunday, October 26th and 27th, to benefit Susan G. Komen Maine. Post time is 12:05 pm (both days).

“My oldest family friend and my boss’s wife were both diagnosed with breast cancer, and both beat it and are cancer free,” said event organizer and horse owner, Katy Waterhouse. “Last year, one driver let me paint his race bike pink in their honor, and it grew from there. This year, it’s an entire weekend raising money for research and awareness.”

Twelve races over the course of the two-day event are sponsored by area businesses and organizations to raise money, and many of the horses racing will be decked out in pink ribbons in their manes, will wear pink brow bands, and feature pink equipment. Drivers participating in the Drive for a Cure races will add pink armbands to show their solidarity for the cause as well as donate their 5% driver’s commissions.

In addition to a 50/50 cash raffle, pink Drive for the Cure bracelets will be for sale ($3) as well as handmade pink horse brow bands ($15). For $1, horse owners can get a pink ribbon painted on their horse’s shoulder, and for $1 per chance, patrons can enter a raffle to win a pink fleece horse cooler, handmade by horse owner, Cindy Pelletier. One hundred percent of all monies raised will go to Susan G. Komen Maine. Representatives from the organization will be at the track during the event.

“We are so excited to take part in such a unique event,” said Phyllis Cohn, Community and Public Relations Specialist for Susan G. Komen Maine. “And we’re thrilled to partner with Scarborough Downs, the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and the entire harness racing community in Maine to help support such an important cause.”

Saturday’s program also features the $8,000 Irving Richardson Memorial Invitational Pace, slated for Race 10. Sunday’s race programs will be printed on pink paper.

Admission to the track is free.