July 1, 2023, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
CUMBERLAND, ME – David Zuckerman, a 67-year-old lifetime harness racing participant, won the Maine Amateur Driving Club (MADC) race at Cumberland on Saturday (July 1), which was his first trip back to the winners circle in over 40 previous attempts.
A Massachusetts native, Zuckerman was a licensed teamster in 1977 at age 21, where he earned a whopping $35 in two starts at the Scarborough Fair.
The next year he had nine starts and then won his first race at Topsham in 1982. He also raced at Lewiston, Cumberland, Skowhegan, and other Maine fairs during his fledgling career. Bitten by the bug, he has been driving horses sporadically ever since.
“I got involved with a guy named Jeff Strong who offered a class in harness racing. From there I bought a horse, and took care of him before and after work,” recalls Zuckerman.
A dental supply salesman and company owner, he has 189 driving starts over the last 45 years and claims to participate just for fun.
“It’s a hobby and an honor to be out there…wherever I finish,” exclaimed Zuckerman. “Mike [Stevenson] and Bruce Ranger were happier than I was [after the win]!”
Today’s triumph was the first time Zuckerman has found pay dirt since 2018, however he has finished third on three occasions earlier this season. In today’s race Zuckerman left from pylon position with his own Rest Assured and let Jarred Laughlin and Pay Later take command through opening fractions of 29 and 1:00.1.
With Zuckerman comfortable in the two-hole, the only challenge to the leaders came from Benson Merrell with Cee Pee Panic down the backside into a 1:29.2 third quarter. When the field rounded the turn for home Zuckerman’s Rest Assured felt the pressure from the outside and responded to urging and began to gain ground on the leader.
Getting up in the final strides, owner and driver Zuckerman grabbed the victory by three parts of a length in 2:00.3 with Rest Assured. They paid $11.80 to win. The trainer of record is Mike Stevenson. Pay Later hung on to be second; Cee Pee Panic was third.
The Maine Amateur Driving Club is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed Stores of Windham and North Yarmouth, Maine.
Two $15,209 divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings were contested before the regular card. Thrice winner Luke McGook scored again in 1:59.4 for owner Leighton Property, trainer Marc Tardif and driver Kevin Switzer Jr. The second division went to Twice The Ice who is owned and trained by Tardif and was driven to a 1:58 victory by Andrew Harrington, a new lifetime mark.
Bruce Ranger won four races on the afternoon card and remains atop the drivers’ standings.
Racing resumes on Saturday (July 8). First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 5. The final day of the meet features a Hambletonian hat giveaway, wagering on all the action from The Meadowlands, our popular Cumberland Derby with $500 in cash prizes, and a new $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational. The first two finishers in tomorrow’s Fred Nichols at Bangor get an automatic invitation.
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