October 4, 2021 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – The curtain closed on the eight day First Tracks Cumberland Fair harness racing meet Sunday (Oct. 3) with a large crowd and a trifecta of prosperous late closer finals, as well as several divisions of the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC).

Walter Case Jr. gave And Up We Go a perfect steer to capture the $12,000 Casco Bay Ford Trot series final in 2:00.1. 

Trained and co-owned by Ralph D’Amelio II with William Fisher, the 5-year-old daughter of And Away We Go picked up her fourth win of the season.  Case, the winner of 11,058 races in his career, sat in the two-hole behind favorite Eternal Flame and hit pay dirt after taking command down the home stretch.  And Up We Go paid $5.40 to win.  RT’s Warrier finished third.

Electrify put on a shocking performance, winning the $10,000 Portland Regency Pacing Series Final by 8 1-2 lengths in 1:57.

Driven by Aaron Hall for trainer Eric Bickmore and owner Ellie Grady, the 11-year-old son of Western Ideal the 30^th win of his career, as well as a three-bagger for Hall, which included the late double.  Ain’t No Mo finished second; Invictus Hanover was third.

Electrify paid $4.20 to win.

Bettor Because A driven by Benson Merrill took the $8,000 Pine Ridge Acres Pacing Series Final in 1:58.1.  Trained by Karl Butterfield for owner Elite Harness Racing, the 6-year-old Bettor’s Delight mare paid $20.00 to win.

The first of two divisions of the Maine Amateur Driving Club saw club president Joe Burke capture his first win of the MADC Fair Circuit aboard 13-1 longshot Meetmeatthedance in 2:00.2.  The Lion’s share of the $3,600 first division purse also went to Joe Burke as he also owns the 5-year-old son of A Rocknroll Dance, who is trained by Robert Marston.

Meetmeatthedance paid $28.00 to win.  Finishing second was Bettorific and driver Adam Gray, who coupled with the winner resulted in a $256.70 exacta.  Favorite See You Friday (David Sawyer) finished third.

The second $3,200 MADC division was won by Esteemed Members and Alex Richardson who was parked every step of the way to win by 3 3-4 lengths in 1:59.4.  Trained by Mark Harris for owner Gayle Harris, the 11-year-old Western Terror mare has been second in her last two MADC outings, both with different pilots.

Esteemed Members paid $7.80 to win.  Saratoga Liz (Derek Howes) finished second; Tricia Star (Ryan Hall) was third.

The Maine Amateur Driving Club fair circuit was generously sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds.

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for our winter meeting, beginning November 3^rd and racing through December 31, 2021.  Post time 11:00 a.m.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

October 2, 2021 – by Bill Ellis & Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Team Cushing, consisting of veteran reinsman Ron Cushing and his sister-in-law Charlene Cushing, scored a one-point victory over Team Nason/Harrington to win Maine’s Family Feud on Saturday at First Tracks Cumberland Fair on Saturday (Oct. 2).

The point system had those drivers with only one drive would have their point total multiplied times two while drivers with two drives would have the score from both drives added together.  Andy Harrington recorded wins in race two (J-S For Justice) and race six (River Rums Deep while teammate stepdad John Nason finished third in his only drive in Race 4 with Runaway Girl.  The combination adding up to 16 points and one shy of the 17 points garnered by team Cushing. 

Charlene “Sherry” Cushing, in her only drive in race 4 with Daughtry Hanover, battled a stubborn Bettor Reason N and Kelly Case, every step of the mile.  Case with Better Reason N managed to finish second after a scorching trip that saw Case, never seeing the rail.  Charlene’s partner Ron Cushing had a third-place finish in race one, the Maine Breeders Stakes event with Mach Royal and a second-place finish with Through The Fence in race 6.   

Dave Ingraham piloted the winner of the swiftest race of the day, steering Rocksapatriot to half-length victory over Alex Having Fun (Drew Campbell) in the $7,500 Free for All Pace.

Tipping three-wide down the backside, Ingraham guided the 6YO son of Rockincam to a 1:54.3 score, his seventh of the season.  Heath Campbell and Andy Harrington both picked up driving doubles, and conditioner Benson Merrill harnessed two winners.

The lone $16,332 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake was captured by Sweet Baby G in 2:01.  The 2YO daughter of Baron Biltmore was driven by Shawn Thayer for trainer Fred Ward Jr. who also owns and bred the filly with his wife Sharon.

The final day of harness racing at the First Tracks Cumberland Fair is Sunday (Oct. 3), featuring two divisions of the Maine Amateur Driving Club, as well as three rich finals of the Cumberland Fair’s late closers with a top purse of $12,000.

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for our winter meeting, beginning November 3^rd and racing through December 31, 2021.  Post time 11:00 a.m.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.