April 20, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Sheriff N took no prisoners in locking up the featured $5,000 conditioned pace on Saturday (April 19) at Cumberland Raceway. 

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. wasted little time taking command of the event, sending his 1-2 favorite out to a snappy :28.1 opening quarter from post four.  Also leaving swiftly was Dinner Party (6-1, Drew Campbell) who was happy to reserve his seat in the pocket, with Frank Deford (4-1, Nick Graffam) tracking along in third.

The Sheriff N was treated to a nice breather going into the 59.4 half, which prompted Flow With Joe (7-1, Walter Case Jr.) to initiate the outer flow and move up toward the leaders.  As the field started to stack up past the third stanza, Switzer Jr. had let out a notch and tripped the backside timer in 1:29.

Turning for home Switzer kept the pocket sitting Dinner Party and Drew Campbell in check, and threw in a :28.3 final quarter to secure the half-length victory in 1:57.3, a seasonal mark.

Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, the 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight grabbed his second win of the season and 34^th of his veteran career.  The victory put the New Zealand-bred stallion over the half million dollar mark lifetime.

Switzer Jr. ultimately scored a hat trick on the card, also winning with Always At My Place (1:57, $16.80) and Bolt Ruler (1:59.2, $9.40).

McGwire Sowers enjoyed a driving double on the Saturday program, with trainer Autym Robinson repeating with a pair of winners.  The father and son duo of driver Nick Graffam and trainer Mike Graffam teamed up to take the late double (4-2, $12.80) with Big Plan Stan (1:59.4, $5.80) and Sailor Jerry (1:59.1, $3.80).

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (April 25) for our third weekend of racing.

Replays are available on-line by selecting the video player tab on our website:

Live Racing • Video Replays

Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

April 19, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Jax Spratt cleaned up the featured $5,500 conditioned trot on ‘Good Friday’ (April 18) at Cumberland Raceway, winning his first start of the season.

When the gate sprung in the afternoon’s third race, trainer-driver Aaron Hall sent his charge out to the front lickety split, following a miscue of the pylon sitting favorite Casanova Hall (6-5).

As the field rolled past the paddock for the first time McGwire Sowers popped the deuce with Gemstone Pillar (4-1) and assumed command into a :30.1 opening panel.  Around the 3/8’s pole Drew Cambell pulled Casanova Hall to the outside in an attempt to reel in the leaders.  Following that cover through the 1:02.2 half was Little Macabee (3-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.).

The field had tightened significantly, with tempo setting Gemstone Pillar finding Casanova Hall at his throat latch while passing the third stanza in 1:32.3.  Little Macabee was still poised to pounce second over, while Jax Spratt sat patiently while locked in the box.

Around the final turn and heading for home the tiring leader drifted out a bit which allowed Hall to skim the cones with Jax Spratt and get up by a length for the victory in 2:03.4.

Owned by Bill ‘Yarmouth Lumber’ Phipps, the 5-year-old son of Devious Man paid $7.80 to win his first race of the year.  He was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock and picked up his 20^th career victory, increasing his lifetime earnings to $114,520.

Little Macabee rallied late to be second; Casanova Hall was third.

Aaron Hall, Nick Graffam and McGwire Sowers all had driving doubles on the Friday program, with trainers Andy Harrington and Autym Robinson harnessing a pair of winners.

Racing resumes at Cumberland for Saturday’s (April 19) card, which carries ten races and kicks off with the season’s second Maine Amateur Driving Club event.  The $4,000 purse attracted a full field of eight entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.  Michael Girouard, fresh off a win with his own Menlo Park last week, and has been installed as the 5-2 favorite while aboard Kate Gerow’s Yankee Sparkle this week.

The early meet’s better pacers clash in the $5,000 fifth race conditioned pace.  Zack Vickerson sends Sheriff N (2-1, Switzer Jr.) who is fresh off a win as a $10,000 claimer last week.  The 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight has been tagged at $12,000 this week and looks to earn the respect of the punters with his strong effort in his last outing. 

Exotic wagers start with Cumberland’s Pick 5 in the third race (with a carryover), and continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts. 

Fans can catch all the live action on-line by selecting the video player tab on our website:

Live Racing • Video Replays

Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

April 18, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Two entrants from the Eric Bickmore stable will battle for trotting supremacy on ‘Good Friday’ (April 18) at Cumberland Raceway in the featured $5,500 conditioned trot.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday with a ten race card, and pits Casanova Hall (2-1, Drew Campbell) against Little Macabee (5-2, Kevin Switzer Jr.) in race three.

Last season, the pair combined for earnings of $100,612, with the pylon positioned Casanova Hall individually at $60,767.  Coming off a win in his last start on opening day, the 4-year-old son of Greenshoe is moving up in class, yet has been installed as the early morning line favorite.

Little Macabee finished first or second on 14 occasions last year, all while battling the top trotters in Maine.  The veteran 11-year-old son of Chapter Seven has accrued $268,933 lifetime and now has a new driver for owner Maryann Tompkins.

Exotic wagers start with Cumberland’s Pick 5 in the third race, and continues with our Pick 4 and Pick 3 toward the tail end of the program, and concludes with our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Saturday’s (April 19) card also carries ten races and kicks off with the season’s second Maine Amateur Driving Club event.  The $4,000 purse attracted a full field of eight entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.  Michael Girouard, fresh off a win with his own Menlo Park last week, and has been installed as the 5-2 favorite while aboard Kate Gerow’s Yankee Sparkle this week.

The early meet’s better pacers meet in the $5,000 fifth race conditioned pace.  Zack Vickerson brings Sheriff N (2-1, Switzer Jr.) who is fresh off a win as a $10,000 claimer last week.  The 11-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight has been tagged at $12,000 this week and looks to earn the respect of the punters with his strong mile last outing. 

Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

April 13, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Maine Amateur Driving Club was back in action on Saturday (April 12) at Cumberland Raceway, with the popular event set as the opener on a track dampened by overnight snowfall.

The sloppy, yet fast conditions didn’t stop Mike Girouard and his heavy 1-5 favorite Menlo Park from engaging in a front end battle with Hunter Lofthus and Art Scene (9-5) who gained the tactical advantage from the starting car in the $4,000 event.  After begrudgingly surrendering the lead at the start, Girouard was right back out and moving to re-take the front while setting an eye-popping :28 second opening panel.

Girouard gave his charge a brief respite going to the half in :58, but had to increase his tempo to maintain his advantage through a 1:27.4 third stanza.  Enjoying a perfect pocket trip, Lofthus tipped Art Scene to the outside off the final turn and set his sights on the leader.

By mid-stretch the pair were heads apart, and the duo battled gamely through the final strides with Menlo Park and Girouard holding on by a scant neck in 2:00.3 to capture the victory. The 8-year-old son of Betterthancheddar is also owned and trained by Girouard, and paid $2.60 for the score.

The Maine Amateur Driving Club events are sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. 

The dynamic duo of McGwire Sowers and Autym Robinson teamed up to take a pair of events, including the $5,500 feature with Hypnoticdream (2:02.1, $3.40) and Readyfortheladys (2:00.4, $4.60).  The pair have accrued five wins over the opening weekend.

Top reinsmen Drew Campbell and Kevin Switzer each grabbed a pair of victories on the day’s program.

For Campbell, the wins came with Dinner Party (2:00.3, $4.00) for trainer Chris DuBois, and Rose Run Slider (2:01.2, $9.20) for Mark Harris.

Switzer’s scores were aboard Heavensway A (2:02, $2.40) and Sherrif N ((2:02.3, $2.40), who were both harnessed by Zack Vickerson.

Racing resumes at Cumberland on Friday (April 18), and the box closes at 10 am on Tuesday (April 15) for a double draw.

Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

April 12, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Perennial leading driver Bruce Ranger was back to his winning ways at Cumberland Raceway, scoring a hat trick on Friday’s (April 11) opening day card. Not to be outdone, ‘young gun’ McGwire Sowers also grabbed three victories.

With four decades separating the two, Ranger (65) and Sowers (25) each plied their trade for a particular stable.

Ranger copped his three wins with horses trained by Benson Merrill.

Last season’s fourth leading trainer with 28 wins, Merrill harnessed Pretty Gorgeous (1:59.3, $3.80); Zampara (2:01.3, $5.00) and Ten Beach Later (2:01.1, $2.80). Then Merrill jumped in the bike himself and scored with Art Of Endurance (2:00, $6.40) to give himself a conditioning grand slam on the program.

Sowers got his three notches aboard charges from the Autym Robinson stable, who enjoyed 20 wins at Cumberland in 2024. Together they accounted for victories with Vel Miss Taylor (1:59.4, $2.40); Mr Fantasy (2:00.1, $2.60) and Moonlightandroses (1:59.1., $12.60). All three were owned by Mo Coo Inc.

‘Double-digit’ Dave Ingraham took the $5,000 featured trot with To My Credit in 2:01.3. The 5-year-old son of Credit Winner is trained by Frank Hiscock and paid $14.80 to win.

Shortly before Friday’s (April 11) first race, nearly 40 drivers, trainers and other Maine harness horse people assembled in front of the infield tote board to observe a moment of silence for fallen driver Hunter Myers.

Saturday’s (April 12) card carries ten races and kicks off with the season’s first Maine Amateur Driving Club event. The $4,000 purse attracted five entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine. Michael Girouard drives his own Menlo Park and has been installed as the 4-5 favorite from pylon position.

The area’s better side-steppers square off in the $5,000 fourth race conditioned pace. Zack Vickerson brings Heavensway A (6-5, Switzer Jr.) from Saratoga and looks to dominate. The 8-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven earned nearly $60,000 last season and looks to get a jump start on his win tally this year.

There is a $618 carryover in the tenth race Pentafecta. Wagering options include the Pick 5 which starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the final race—all with low 16% takeouts.

Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend. First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

April 10, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – This year’s first live pari-mutuel harness racing in the state of Maine kicks off this weekend at Cumberland Raceway, just north of Portland.  The iconic Cumberland fairgrounds has hosted Standardbred sport for over 150 years, and this year marks the fifth consecutive season that ‘First Tracks’ has held 50-plus day racing meets in the Pine Tree State.

Ten minutes prior to Friday’s (April 11) first race, drivers and trainers will assemble front side to observe a moment of silence for fallen driver Hunter Myers.

The action kicks off at 3:15 pm on Friday with a ten race card, featuring a $5,000 conditioned trot slated as race two.

Show Me The Magic (2-1, Bruce Ranger) has post position on his side as the 10-year-old son of Donato Hanover leaves from pylon position for trainer Benson Merrill and owner Stan Whittemore.  With $224,264 earned lifetime, and 36 victories, the veteran trotter knows his way around the racetrack.

The second choice is To My Credit (7-2, Dave Ingraham) who enjoyed victory in the Camp Kippewa Trot at Cumberland last summer.  The 5-year-old son of Credit Winner is trained by Frank Hiscock and owned by TCB Racing.

Another competitive group of trotters vying for $4,400 in race nine is led by Casanova Hall (1-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) who was last seen racing against tougher company at Pocono and the Meadowlands.  The 4-year-old son of Greenshoe gets a barn change to Eric Bickmore, who also owns the horse who earned over $60,000 in 2024.

Also worth a look is Rose Run Yakim (4-1) who is familiar with the local oval and scores from post two.  Trained by Dakota Niles, the 5-year-old son of Triumphant Caviar gets the services of last year’s leading driver Drew ‘send ’em’ Campbell, who makes his triumphant return from the warmer climes of Gilcrist Training Center in Bell, Florida.

Saturday’s (April 12) card also carries ten races and kicks off with the season’s first Maine Amateur Driving Club event.  The $4,000 purse attracted five entrants and is sponsored by the Blue Seal Feed stores of North Falmouth and Windham, Maine.  Michael Girouard drives his own Menlo Park and has been installed as the 4-5 favorite from pylon position.

The area’s better side-steppers square off in the $5,000 fourth race conditioned pace.  Zack Vickerson brings Heavensway A (6-5, Switzer Jr.) from Saratoga and looks to dominate.  The 8-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven earned nearly $60,000 last season and looks to get a jump start on his win tally this year.

Looking ahead to the first Saturday in May, bettors and fans of Thoroughbred racing will be able to watch and wager on the entire Kentucky Derby card from Churchill Downs, right in the Cumberland grandstand.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

April 5, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – One of Maine’s favorite daughters, Gowestyounggrace, returned to action in preparation for her upcoming 4-year-old season, and driver Walter Case Jr. took four of nine Cumberland Raceway qualifiers during Saturday’s (April 5) opening round of harness racing in the Pine Tree State.

Owned and bred by Sharon and Fred Ward Jr., Maine’s champion sophomore pacing filly of 2024, Gowestyounggrace was teamed up with her regular reinsman Dave Ingraham to ‘reign in’ her competition in the all-distaff event.  Scoring from post seven the daughter of Western Maverick got away fifth and sat chilly into a 1:00 first half.  Tipping first over past the five-eighths pole, ‘Grace’ inherited some cover as Aaron Hall popped the deuce with Maggie At Bat around the 1:30 three-quarter panel.

Pushing three-wide around the final turn Ingraham had ‘Grace’ out rolling, passing the leaders with every stride, leading track announcer Mike Cushing to exclaim, “showing her heels to the field.”  The pair tripped the timer in 2:00.4 by a measured length over pacesetter Virtual Success.  Trained by Fred Ward Jr., Gowestyounggrace earned $150,327 with 12 wins in 16 starts last season.

Walter Case Jr., who was last year’s third leading dash winning driver at Cumberland, was first across the wire on four occasions during the day’s qualifying races.  Casey scored with Empereurthebest FR (2:05.2) in the opening trot for trainer James Dunn, and Miki De Vie (1:59.1), Nagle (2:01.1) and Buerger (2:03.1) who were all trained by Michelle Lefebvre.

Kevin Switzer Jr., the second leading driver of 2024 copped three races on the card, including: Whatchagonnadoboo (2:02, Erik Bickmore); Control The Piper (2:00) and Warrawee Yale (1:58), both trained by Gerald MacKenzie Jr.

Joe Burke, the president of the Maine Amateur Driving Club, got the job done against the professionals, steering his own Bo Master to a quarter length pocket trip score in 2:01.1.  The 11-year-old son of Sportmaster is trained by Bob Marston.

Horsemen should note that opening weekend’s double draw for Friday and Saturday (April 11 & 12), now has the box closing at 12 pm (noon, EDT) on Tuesday (April 8).  The condition sheet has been posted on the USTA’s online entry system.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

April 4, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Nine qualifying races are carded and ready to roll at First Tracks Cumberland (Maine) on Saturday (April 5).  Fifty six horses filled the entry box for tomorrow’s 12:00 pm noon post time, which will be broadcast in its totality on the Racetrack Television Network.

For the USTA race pages and past performances, CLICK BELOW:

https://firsttrackscumberland.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/CUMB-04052025-12noon-QUALIFIERS.pdf

With the upcoming Spring meet at Cumberland taking shape, a host of 4-year-olds all the way up to a handful of 13-year-old veterans are ready to take on the teletimer and their peers in the first harness racing action in the state of Maine for 2025.

In the opener, Pax Hanover warrants some attention as the 5-year-old son of Cantab Hall earned over $48,000 last season and looks to be a new trotting acquisition for the Harrington Stable.

In the second race sub 1:50 pacer Lifes A Puzzle looks to return to form as the $86,456 seasonal winner get his owner Richard Humphrey in the sulky.

Pacing mare Maggie At Bat is eager to get back to making money this year.  The 5-year-old daughter of Rockin Image earned over $108,000 last season and now races for the Harrington Stable.  She scores right next to Maine Sire Stakes Champion Gowestyounggrace in race seven, who returns to Cumberland with $150,000 on her stakes-winning card from last year.  The 4-year-old daughter of Western Maverick is owned and bred by Sharon and Fred Ward Jr.

Opening weekend’s double draw for Friday and Saturday (April 11 & 12), has the box closing at 10 am (EDT) on Tuesday (April 9).  The condition sheet will be posted on the USTA’s online entry system following the qualifying races.

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring and early Summer months with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.