Scarborough,
Maine
–
Scarborough
Downs
is
teaming
up
once
again
with
the
Standardbred
Pleasure
Horse
Organization
of
Maine
to
honor
the
racing
careers
of
six
Standardbred
race
horses
who
are
retiring
from
harness
racing
this
season
with
a
special
ceremony
on
Sunday,
December
28th,
the
last
day
of
the
2008
live
racing
season.
Scarborough
Downs
will
celebrate
these
grand
veterans
who
deserve
to
be
sent
off
to
new
careers
and
green
pastures
with
fanfare
and
ceremony.
This
is
the
second
annual
event,
designed
to
honor
all
fourteen-year-old
trotters
and
pacers
who
had
ever
raced
at
Scarborough
Downs,
as
well
as
any
horses
that
will
be
hanging
up
their
bridles
at
the
end
of
this
season.
Retirement
is
mandatory
for
all
Standardbred
race
horses
at
the
end
of
their
14th
year,
as
mandated
by
the
US
Trotting
Association.
The
horses,
who
will
don
special
retirement
blankets
bearing
their
names
and
race
records,
will
be
walked
from
the
paddock
by
their
owners
and
trainers
and
paraded
one
final
time
in
front
of
the
grandstands
as
Auld
Lang
Sine
is
played
over
the
public
address
system.
The
horses
will
then
be
introduced
and
their
career
accomplishments
will
be
detailed
by
the
track
announcer
as
they
visit
the
Winner's
Circle
for
the
last
time
in
their
careers.
Members
of
the
SPHO
will
then
present
each
retiree
with
an
embroidered
saddle
pad
signifying
their
transition
from
racing
to
pleasure
horse
and
walk
them
off
the
track
to
their
new
destinations.
The
Standardbred
Pleasure
Horse
Organization
of
Maine
retrains
Standardbred
horses
to
become
pleasure
--
or
riding
--
horses,
after
their
racing
careers
are
over.
“There
won’t
be a
dry
eye
in
the
house,”
said
SPHO
representative,
Jill
Flaherty.
“It
is a
very
touching
ceremony.
But
the
most
exciting
part
of
the
day
comes
in
the
realization
that
these
fine
animals
will
now
embark
on
new
and
exciting
careers
as
pleasure
horses
now
that
their
racing
days
are
through.”
The
six
horses
being
honored
at
the
ceremony
are:
Kingstar
A
(1:50.4),
Tyler
Trouble
(1:52.1),
Right
On
Goalie
(1:56.3),
Free
Lance
(1:57.1),
Bestest
Behavior
(1:58),
Wingswept
Robin
(1:55.1).
Combined,
these
horses
have
recorded
279
wins
during
their
careers
while
amassing
$1,551,423
in
total
purse
earnings.
In
addition
to
marshalling
at
the
ceremonies,
the
SPHO
will
also
be
on
hand
in
the
Grandstand
with
an
information
booth
on
their
program.
The
public
will
also
have
access
to
the
horses,
which
are
all
retired
Standardbreds,
used
for
marshaling,
to
ask
questions,
etc.
Post
time
is
12:30
pm.
Admission
to
the
event
is
free.
For
more
information,
contact
Susan
Higgins
at
207-883-4331
x1002
or
Mike
Sweeney
at
x1037.
