PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Maine Sires Stakes program will make its 2015 fair circuit debut at the Northern Maine Fair on Friday.
On the opening night of the fair, 3-year-old pacers will go to the post at 6 p.m., followed with the 3-year-old colt pacers at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 28.
So far this year, the pacers have raced twice, once at Scarborough and once at Bangor. There have been two divisions at each track. The standings as of July 14 show a tie for first between Cat Has A Kitten and Eat Your Enemy with two wins and earnings of $11,669 each. Cat Has A Kitten won in Scarborough in 1 minute, 58 seconds, and Eat Your Enemy won in Bangor in 1:59.
Pembroke Wildcat has the lead for the colt pacers with two wins, both taking place in Bangor. Hardcorjohnypawn and Pembroke Maverick have a victory each coming in Bangor.
On Wednesday, July 28, the 2- and 3-year-old colt and filly trotters will take to the track with a 2 p.m. post time. Sampsonofravencast and Broadway Cast lead the colt trotter standings with 75 points each. Tropical Trice leads the way among the filly trotter with a pair of wins in Scarborough. Bangor Raceway held a session of stake racing Monday.
The 2-year-old colt trotters and 2-year old filly trotters began their season Sunday at Scarborough Downs. Winning the filly trot was Gonnakissmeornot, driven by Ron Cushing and timed in 2:08.3. He’s A Castoff, driven by Mark Athearn, won the 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters event in 2:05.3. In the field of 17 starters, two Maine sires had offspring — five by Current Cast and five by Noble Venture. These trotters will meet again in Presque Isle July 29.
Bringing the Maine Sires Stakes to the Northern Maine Fair gives local fans an opportunity to witness the best of harness racing. Up to now, purses have been between $11,000 and $12,000, depending on the number of starters in the race.
Horse owners have to be paid a starting fee — $75 for a 2-year-old and $100 for a 3-year-old. These funds are added to the purse. In 2014, $112,661 was received from the state as reimbursement for stake races. Last year’s total purse paid was $258,186. Of that total, $145,525 is paid for regular race purses for overnight events. Funds for race purses come from a race stipend, which is funded by Maine’s casinos in Bangor and Oxford.
With better classes of horses due to higher purse structure, racetime records are falling. Two records were broken in 2013 and four in 2014. A special attraction this year is the entrance of the Northern Maine Fair into the Maine Fair Series, with three divisions. Northern Maine will hold the first division on Friday, followed by the next two on July 27 and 28. Purses will be $2,700 and three final races will be held at the Windsor Fair.
After Friday’s opener, harness racing will be held at the fair Monday through Friday with 6 p.m. post times on Monday, Thursday and Friday and 2 p.m. starts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The presiding judge will be Frank Hall, Jr. and the race secretary will be Ken Summers.
