November 18, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Steve Wilson came from off the pace on Sunday (Nov. 17) to capture the $5,000 top pace at Cumberland Raceway with George Fenno’s Instant Replay. 

Scoring from post four, Wilson left swiftly to assume command before the field hit the first turn, but was content to let Denver Seelster (Kevin Switzer Jr.) pop the deuce and take the top when the field straightened out going down the backstretch.

As Denver Seelster led the sidesteppers past the opening panel in :28.3, the outer flow started to materialize early in the form of Axion Hanover (Drew Campbell) who has won his last three outings and was the public choice at 4-5.

As the pack passed the stands into a :59.2 half-mile time, Grand Galop Semalu (Andy Harrington) was second over with Instant Replay sitting alongside in the cat bird seat.  Not much changed at the 1:27.3 third panel as the front-end battle made for some tight quarters as the pacers rounded the final turn.

Through the stretch the pacesetters drifted out enough to allow Instant Replay to skim the cones and advance past the head strong duo.  Wilson had only Axion Hanover to out-step at the wire, as the pair held on to win by half a length.

Trained by Christopher DuBois for owner George Fenno III, the 4-year-old son of Lazarus N picked up his sixth win of the season after finishing second in three of his last four outings.  Paying $9.00 to win, he split the beam in 1:58.1.

Axion Hanover finished second; Denver Seelster was third.

Drivers Kevin Switzer Jr. and Drew Campbell each picked up a hat trick on the Sunday program.  For Drew Campbell, his 6,000th victory watch now stands at minus 17 with 5,983.   McGwire Sowers is also on our radar with the 24-year-old reinsman now just seven shy of the 1,000 win threshold.

Racing resumes on Saturday (Nov. 23) with another card of full fields.

First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Then, Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

November 17, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Wally Watson went from pillar to post with 35-1 longshot Broadway Giant to slay the $5,500 featured trotters at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 16), lighting up the tote board in the process.

Broadway Hall took matters into his own hands and scurried to the front as soon as the wings folded, with Watson easily grabbing the point before the eighth pole.  Valyrian Steel (Drew Campbell) was stuck on the outside heading down the backstretch and forced himself into the three-hole, while Inquiring Mind (Dave Ingraham) stuck close to the leaders helmet into the :28.3 opening panel.

The first to move into the outer flow was High Gear No Fear (Nick Graffam), who was reluctantly followed by 1-2 favorite Buddy Earl (Steve Wilson).  Just past the 1:00.1 softer half, Drew Campbell ducked into the second over gap with Valyrian Steel.

On the outside through the 1:29.2 third panel High Gear No Fear battled neck-and-neck with Broadway Giant, with the favored Buddy Earl now three-wide around the final turn.  As the field turned for home there were five horses across the racetrack with less than a length separating them as the finish.

Broadway Giant maintained his composure and the advantage to win by half a length in 2:01.1 over High Gear No Fear.  Driven by Wally Watson for owner-trainer Ron Patione, it was the 10-year-old Broadway Hall gelding’s seventh win of the season and 35^th lifetime.  He paid $72.60 to win, and now boasts earnings of $181,963.

Valyrian Steel finished third.

Driver McGwire Sowers enjoyed a grand slam on the program and Drew Campbell picked up another three winners, edging him to within 20 wins of the 6,000 career victory plateau. 

Trainer Autym Robinson had three victories on the card, Kim Vafiades and Dalton Lee each picked up a pair.

Racing continues on Sunday (Nov. 17) with another 13-race card of full fields.

First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Then, Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

November 15, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – According to a 17^th century nursery rhyme, ‘Jack Sprat could eat no fat.’  Despite its antiquity, that 400-year-old adage may still apply to Standardbred Jax Spratt, who is looking for his fifth consecutive victory at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday (Nov. 16).

Jax Spratt has enjoyed a banner season winning 12 of 25 starts while doubling his win total from the previous year.  Yet, owner Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps claims his 4-year-old son of Devious Man is a lean, trotting machine.

“He’s a nice little horse and always stays trotting,” Phipps noted.  “All the credit goes to his trainer Aaron Hall and caretaker Jason Bertolini.  They have done a fabulous job handling him.”

The gregarious proprietor of a Maine-based trucking company, Phipps has owned hundreds of race horses with many different trainers.  But he was quick to point out that Hall doesn’t just race his horses, ‘he manages them.’

“My horses don’t have to win for me to be happy.  I just want them to race good and stay healthy.  Aaron [Hall] has a great work ethic, and he and his team keep their horses sound and happy,” Phipps stated.  “I am just the guy with my name on the registration.”

Purchased as a yearling by Phipps, the New York bred gelding has a mark of 1:56.3 taken at Plainridge this year, and total lifetime earnings of $105,465.

While modest, Phipps has a lot to be happy about as Jax Spratt has earned $38,261 this season, racing primarily in Maine.  This week he scores from post six and has been installed as the 9-5 second choice in the $5,500 featured conditioned trot, carded as race eight on the 13-race card.

Now with Cumberland the only track currently racing in the state, the entire program has a lot of action for horse players with eight of 13 events boasting full seven or eight horse fields.  The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the tenth, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

The action continues on Sunday (Nov. 17) with another 13-race card of full fields.

First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Then, Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Saturday, Dec. 21.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

November 11, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Red hot reinsman Drew Campbell won four races at Cumberland (Maine) on Sunday (Nov. 10) including the $5,000 featured conditioned pace with Axion Hanover.

When the wings folded for the bright, early afternoon event the 4-5 favorite Art Scene was sent scurrying out for the lead by Walter Case Jr.  Longshot Through The Fence (26-1, Aaron Hall) begrudgingly yielded into a :27.2 opening panel, with the rest of the field strung out down the backstretch.  Case stepped on the breaks and led the tightening pack into a :59 half with Tobins Burke (7-2, Andy Harrington) first over, and Axion Hanover taking advantage of the live cover.

The pace hastened into a 1:27.1 third quarter, which prompted Campbell to tip Axion Hanover three-wide around the final turn as the front end started to stall.  With the momentum in his favor, the 5-year-old son of Betting Line strode home a 1-1/4 length winner in 1:57.1.

Trained by Mark Harris for owner Gayle Harris, it was Axion Hanover’s ninth win of the season, and third in a row.  Paying $10.40 to win, his lifetime earnings have now reached $85,365.

Tobins Burke finished second; Through The Fence picked up third.

Drew Campbell’s three additional victories on the card were: Reys N A Ruckus ($11.40, 1:58.2); Timbo Slice ($4.80, 1:57.4); and We’re Gonna Rock ($18.60, 2:00.2).

McGwire Sowers had three wins on the program including the Late Double, and Walter Case Jr. won the Daily Double.

Racing resumes on Saturday (Nov. 16), with First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoying weekend action throughout the month of November.  Then, Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am.  The popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

November 8, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Photo Credit: Rockingham Park Archives / Scott Oldeman)

CUMBERLAND, ME – First Tracks Cumberland will honor the iconic and daring Maine harness driver Leigh Fitch with a memorial race on Saturday (Nov. 9).  The purse of $7,592 reflects the dash win total of his storied career, with a large contingent of family and friends expected to be on hand to pay homage to Fitch who passed away on Oct. 26 at the age of 79.

Journalist Jay Burns wrote, “his daring, rail-hugging driving style propelled him to 7,592 victories and more than anyone’s share of driving spills during a 53-year career. Fitch was one of the first great catch drivers in Maine, emerging a few years before Billy Parker Jr.”

Burns continued, “But speed and the front end were not what made Fitch famous in Maine. Instead, his style was iconoclastic, in keeping with his personality: independent, stubborn, and cagey. ‘I didn’t want to be like the others. I wanted to be myself.’ At a time when the perfect drive was the gentlemanly second-over trip described by Billy Haughton in the harness racing manual Care and Training of the Trotter and Pacer, Fitch’s insurgent style disrupted that model, gaining him the nickname ‘The Fox.’ Rarely flushed off the rail, Fitch instead was often a rail skimmer who mastered the art of anticipating the opening of a seam late in the mile, using athletic reflexes and exquisite timing to feed his horse open racetrack. Fitch once said that ‘winning was life or death for me,’ and his driving style, safe but daring, meant brushes with the latter. It was the era of the wooden hub rail, and any driver working the inside late in the mile needed steely nerves.”

The Leigh Fitch Memorial, slated as race eight, features a group of top class of ‘winners over’ pacers who have collectively earned over $1.17 million and three with sub-1:51 time badges.  The early morning line favorite is Hespoisedtopounce (3-2, Aaron Hall) who scores from post five.  Trained by Jimmy Nickerson for owners Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo, the 8-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight has two wins and eight checks in his last ten starts.

Inside of the favorite is Vel Letsroll South (5-2, McGwire Sowers) who is trained by Autym Robinson for Mo Coo Inc., and enters the fray off a win in his last start.  A horse who also warrants consideration is Denver Seelster (9-2, Nick Graffam) who leaves from pylon position for trainer Chris Dubois and owner Mary Fernald.

The presentation will be made by special guest Chaplain Lee Alphen from the Christian Harness Horsemen’s Assoc.

Of course, the entire program has a lot of action for horse players with eight events boasting full seven or eight horse fields.  The Pick 5 starts with the third race and has a $605 carryover; our Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the tenth and final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

The action continues on Sunday (Nov. 10) with another 10-race card of full fields.

First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Then, Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

November 4, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Walter Case Jr. drove Hoosier Shark to a front-end victory in First Tracks Cumberland’s $5,500 feature on Sunday (Nov. 3), winning in 1:57.2 by a scant half a length, while Drew Campbell pushed his weekend win total to nine. 

Leaving from post three Case never saw the back of a helmet as he breezed through opening fractions of :27.3 and :59 before being challenged first over by Ranaldi into a 1:27.1 third panel.

Around the final turn Drew Campbell pulled Airspinder three-wide on the outside, while pocket-sitting Denver Seelster (Nick Graffam) ducked up the inside as the field straightened out for home.  Down the stretch Hoosier Shark was desperately looking for the finish wire as the swarm of would-be upsetters had him surrounded.

Hoosier Shark held his foes at bay for trainer Chris Lefebvre and owner Lonnie Lefebvre, as the 6-year-old son of Tellitlikeitis was the 9-5 second choice on the board behind the even-money favorite Ranaldi (Kevin Switzer Jr.).  He paid $5.80 to win.  Denver Seelster finished second; Airspinder was third.

In other action, Drew Campbell picked right up where he left off at Cumberland’s Winter Festival opener, winning four more races on Sunday, which gave the veteran driver nine scores over the 20-race weekend.

Once again, Campbell started the day off with a victory in the opener, steering Miki De Vie to a seven length romp in 1:58.1, a seasonal best. 

Owned by MLefebvre Racing and trained by Chris Lefebvre, the 4-year-old son of Always B Miki picked up his third win of the year, paying $5.20, and giving the connections a training double.

Campbell hit the daily double with Rose Run Slider in a wire-to-wire rout for trainer Mark Harris and owner Gayle Harris.  Tripping the time in 1:58.2, the 10-year-old son of Western Ideal got his seventh score of the season and paid $2.60.

Power Master gave Drew Campbell his third win on the card, and blew up the tote board in the process.  With heavy 1-9 favorite Lord Magnetic making a break behind the gate, Campbell let 38-1 longshot JK Lucky Charm (Walter Case Jr.) cut the fractions from post eight.  Tipping past the third stanza, Power Master at 80-1 rolled past the pacesetter and scored by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:59.2.

Trained by Christopher Dubois for owner Robert Kluchevitz, the 3-year-old son of Shadow Play acquired his fifth win of the year, paying a whopping $163.60 on a two-dollar ticket.

Drew Campbell got his fourth win of the early afternoon with Axion Hanover, winning in a gritty, rim-rolling fashion by a length in 1:58.2.

Campbell is now just 30 wins away from the 6,000 victory threshold.

For the fourth season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 21.  The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing, or have recently retired, and have Maine connections.  Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program.  Equine honorees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 4.  To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: tullytrot@yahoo.com.

Racing resumes next Saturday (Nov. 9) and will feature the Leigh Fitch Memorial, and a $605 carryover in the Pick 5.  The live action continues on Sunday (Nov. 10). 

First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Then, Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024, and post time is always 10:55 am.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

November 3, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – When Maine’s Winter Festival kicked off at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday (Nov. 2) veteran reinsman won half the races on the first of 19 Pine Tree State harness racing dates.

Winston ‘Drew’ Campbell, along with his younger brother of Heath Campbell, hail from the Canadian Maritime province of Nova Scotia, but have made Maine their home for the last several decades.  Both have over 5,000 wins and are always among the most sought after drivers on the competitive Maine circuit.

Closing in on another milestone, Drew Campbell added a handful of wins to bring his career dash total to 5,966.  The elder Campbell wasted little time getting to the Cumberland Raceway winners circle as the reined the winner of the first race on Saturday, Dancethebigdance N, to a 1:58.3 score in the opener.  Trained by Alex Richardson for owner Mary Fernald, the 6-year-old daughter of A Rocknroll Dance picked up her sixth win of the season, paying $2.60.

Campbell continued his ‘rein’ of terror with a natural hat trick in races three, four and five, scoring with Betfromthebeach (2:00.2, $2.80), Broadway Giant (2:02.1, $6.20) and the $5,000 co-featured trot with Love Kitten.

The 5-year-old Jailhouse Jesse mare trotted to a 2:01.3 upset score for owner Jason Vafiades and trainer Kimberly Vafiades.  Taking her ninth win of the season, she paid $12.80 to win.  Scottish Blue (Nick Graffam) finished second; Show Me The Magic (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was third.

Campbell completed his quintet of conquests with Threetimessix (2:00.3, $7.40) for owner-trainer-breeder James Smallwood.  In taking the $5,000 co-featured pace, the 5-year-old daughter of Eighteen grabbed her seventh win of the year.  Favorite Whatchagonnadoboo (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second; Delightful Virgin (Dave Ingraham) was third.

McGwire Sowers enjoyed a pair of driving victories, and both were trained by Autym Robinson.

Everybody’s favorite octogenarian Bob Nadeau grabbed his third Cumberland win of the season, piloting his own Azariya to a 2-3/4 length score in 2:02.1.  The 4-year-old daughter of Lazurus N paid $12.00 to win.

Racing continues on Sunday (Nov. 3) and features a $5,500 top pacing event of the week, headlined by Hoosier Shark (2-1, Walter Case Jr.) who is coming off a win in his last start and has won over a third of his seasonal outings.  Of course, former track stars Airspinder (7-2, Drew Campbell) and Rocksapatriot (5-1, Dave Ingraham) will also test the mettle of the early morning line favorite.

The program has a lot of action for horse players, as the Pick 5 starts with the third race; the Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and a High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

For the fourth season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 21.  The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing, or have recently retired, and have Maine connections.  Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program.  Equine honorees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 4.  To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: tullytrot@yahoo.com.

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting, which enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Next Saturday (Nov. 9) will feature the Leigh Fitch Memorial, with the live action continuing on Sunday (Nov. 10).  Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/  or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

November 1, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Racing resumes at the iconic Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 2) for the first of 19 Southern Maine racing dates, knows as the “Winter Festival,” with some of the Pine Tree State’s top trotters and pacers kicking off the ten-race card.

The $5,000 co-features are conditioned events with the fifth race trot being headed by Buddy Earl (8-5, Walter Case Jr.) who scores from post two and Love Kitten (9-5, Drew Campbell) who leaves from post three.  Collectively the pair have earned in excess of $100,000 this season, and will battle it out in this top trotting skirmish.

The $5,000 conditioned pace is carded as race eight and features Twin B High Tech (5-2, Aaron Hall) from post seven, and pylon sitting Whatchagonnadoboo (3-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) in this battle of the side steppers.

Overall, the entire program has a lot of action for horse players with eight events boasting full seven or eight horse fields.  The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

Sunday’s (Nov. 3) card features the $5,500 top pacing event of the week, headlined by Hoosier Shark (2-1, Walter Case Jr.) who is coming off a win in his last start and has won over a third of his seasonal outings.  Of course, former track stars Airspinder (7-2, Drew Campbell) and Rocksapatriot (5-1, Dave Ingraham) will also test the mettle of the early morning line favorite.

For the fourth season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 21.  The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing, or have recently retired, and have Maine connections.  Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program.  Equine honorees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 4.  To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: tullytrot@yahoo.com.

Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting, which enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Next Saturday (Nov. 9) will feature the Leigh Fitch Memorial, with the live action continuing on Sunday (Nov. 10).  Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024.

For more information go to our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

September 30, 2024, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
(Stephanie Gray photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Leading part-time driver Hunter Lofthus grabbed another victory in the $4,700 Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) series at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Sept. 30), showing his fellow reinsmen that patience is a virtue.

Lofthus, who already had 10 wins in 34 starts and a 0.408 UDRS coming into the race, was sent off as the 1-2 favorite from post four with Jamie Gerard’s Polyester.

When the gate sprung it was Zampara and Benson Merrill that shot out for an early lead, with Todd Whitney driving Twin B Impressive trying to force his way into the two-hole.  With those to combatants duking it out through the stinging :27.2 opening panel and into the :57.1 half, the aggressive, front-running pair began to falter as the field headed to the 1:27.2 third stanza.

Meanwhile, at the back of the pack, Lofthus has sprung from the pylons heading to the half and had advanced to second position before the pacers reached the final turn.  From that point the 4-year-old daughter of Dude’s The Man was in full flight and charged down to the wire in 1:58, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths.

For driver Lofthus, it was his 11th win of the year, which coupled with his seven second-place finishes in 35 starts, gave the talented teamster a 0.425 UDRS.

Polyester is owned and trained by Jamie Gerard, giving the mare her seventh seasonal victory.  Gerard also had an additional three training wins on the program, including: Twin B High Tech (1:56.4, $5.00); Acefortyfour Cory (1:59.2, $5.20); Hunting Angels (1:58.3, $10.40).

Provisional driver Dalton Lee picked up his second win of the season, blowing up the tote board in the process.  Lee sent his own Eternal Ring on a wire-to-wire tour of the facility with 3-2 favorite American Fighter and Drew Campbell glued to his helmet.

The 11-year-old daughter of Artzina held on to win by three parts of a length in 2:01.3, paying $20.20 for the victory in the $5,000 Blueberry Pop-Up Consolation.

Driver Andy Harrington had three wins on the program, where Walter Case Jr., Aaron Hall and Kevin Switzer Jr. all enjoyed driving doubles on the final day of the ‘Fair’ meet.

Live harness racing resumes with the First Tracks Cumberland Winter Festival, which begins a 19-card stretch on November 2.  The action follows a 2-day Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the month of November.  In December the track adds Fridays for 3-day weekends of racing through December 22.  Our popular Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 21.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/