May 22, 2021 – by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland
NOTE: NEW POST TIME: 2:30 pm starting TUE 25 MAY
CUMBERLAND, ME – When First Tracks Cumberland opened its virtual entry box in early May, New Brunswick-native Mike Stevenson called Race Secretary Marc Reynolds and said, “This is the first time, and the last time, that I am calling you.”
Stevenson continued, “I am stabled right here on the grounds in Cumberland. I have five RACE HORSES. And they will RACE. Considered them entered and use them whenever you need them.”
Stevenson wasn’t trying to be a wise guy or disrespectful. In his own way, he was simply giving the race office free reign to enter his horses at will. This is helpful for a race secretary that must rely on the computer and the telephone, rather than a large barn area, to fill a race card.
Reynolds was grateful for the vote of confidence, “Mike’s a nice guy and we certainly appreciate having his horses in the box every week.’’
57-year-old Stevenson makes Maine his home and is a regular driver around the New England circuit. Perhaps settled down now, there are very few tracks that Stevenson has not made an appearance. Having trekked all over the East Coast, and on both sides of the border, the second generation horseman has raced at all of the Standardbred hotspots.
With plenty of memories of time spent in New Jersey during the 90s, coupled with several stints back in his native New Brunswick, Stevenson finds the Maine environment much to his liking.
“I am excited about the racing at Cumberland. I think this group has done a great job resurrecting the Maine racing schedule,” Stevenson stated. “Our industry needs places like this. Maine needs a place like this. This area reminds me of Prince Edward Island. The people around here love harness racing. There is a race bike on every lawn and a horse in every barn.”
Stevenson spent some of his teenage years hanging around the Meadowlands in the 1980s, working with his dad, Bob Stevenson, at one time one of the leading trainers at the Big M. He also worked with Peter Blood at Foxboro and Pompano, and eventually built up his own successful stable up in Fredericton, NB.
Entering his fifth decade of driving harness horses, Stevenson is approaching 2,000 dash wins and has earned $7.3 million on the racetrack. Saturday he gets the call on Caulfield, leaving from post four in the $6,000 Winners Over Trot at Cumberland.
“He is just a real nice, honest old horse. Once you get through first turn he really is a push button trotter,” Stevenson recalled.
“Honesty goes a long way around here, and so does two minutes. He’s good on a small track, and handy too.”
A nine-year-old son of Kadabra, from the Tom Ridge mare Misty Ridge, Stevenson points out that he is well bred and that helps a horse succeed in Maine. Looking for his third win in a row and fourth victory in five starts, Caulfield is the richest trotter in the field with $372,311 earned lifetime. Trained by Bob Marston, Caulfield has 24 career wins with nine victories in the last 18 months, and is owned by George Tzikas.
“But most of all,” Stevenson exclaims, “Winning keeps him happy. He’s out here jogging with his tail up, grabbing on and feeling good.”
“They know when they win…they know!”
Racing from Cumberland is presented LIVE each Tuesday and Saturday, through July 31.
For more information go to our website firsttrackscumberland.com and follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.
