November 3, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Leading reinsmen Kevin Switzer Jr. put on a driving clinic on opening day of the Winter Festival at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 2), winning seven of the nine races he drove in.

Switzer Jr. wasted little time finding the Blue Seal Winner’s circle at the iconic Southern Maine oval, sending even-money favorite Eager Beaver to a 2:02 maiden-breaking victory in the opener.  Owned by Sara Fernald and trained by Billy DuBois, the 3-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight returned $4.20.

The Maine-native, third generation horseman came right back in the second to secure the daily double with trotter Foxy Trottin Stick in 2:01.2, his second two-hole trip of the day.  The 9-year-old son of Big Stick Lindy paid $3.00 for owner-trainer Jamie Gerard. 

In the fourth race the 38-year-old teamster went down the road with Smokin By N in 1:56.  An 11-year-old son of Mach Three who is owned and trained by Scott Vickerson, he returned $4.40.

The fifth race witnessed another wire-to-wire rout from post six with Ga Speed Matrix (2:00.1, $3.80).

The $5,000 feature saw Kreacher win by a neck in 1:57.4 for the red-hot reinsman.  Owned and trained by Nancy Stewart, the 10-year-old son of Pet Rock returned a handsome $19.60 to win.  3-2 public choice Wolftrax (Heath Campbell) finished second.

Switzer picked up his sixth and seventh wins on the 10-race card with Ten Beaches Later (2:00.3, $2.20) and Gotta Minute N (1:57.1, $3.80).

While winning seven on one harness racing program may seem like a magical accomplishment, this is not the first time that Kevin Switzer Jr. has accomplished this lofty feat.

According to New England harness racing historian and Bangor track announcer Mike Sweeney the top pilot has completed the task on three previous occasions: Scarborough Downs and at the Skowhegan State Fair in 2014, and again at Skowhegan this year.  It’s no surprise that Switzer Jr. is having another career year having eclipsed his previous earnings threshold of $2.67 million in 2023.  This year he stands at $2.68 million and 308 victories with plenty of racing still to be contested.

Overall Switzer Jr. has amassed $21 million in earnings over his 20-plus year career with 3,817 wins since he began driving in 2003.

In other news, Todd Whitney took the Maine Amateur Driving Club race with Keystone Maxim in 1:59.1, returning $2.40.

For the fifth season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 20.  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 their photograph in the special commemorative program.  Equine honorees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 3.  To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: tullytrot@yahoo.com.

Racing replays can be found on our website: firsttrackscumberland.com on the Live Racing / Video Replays tab.

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday (Nov. 8), post time 10:55 am.  The Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continues with weekend (Sat-Sun) action throughout the month of November.  Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5.  The 18-day meet continues through Dec. 21, 2025.

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

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

November 1, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Racing resumes at the iconic Cumberland Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 2) for the first of 18 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 featured conditioned pace pits Wolftrax (2-1, Heath Campbell) against Arts Flight (5-1, Aaron Hall) in the seventh race skirmish. 

Ironically, Hall sat behind both horses during their last trip to the winners circle.  For Wolftrax, who is trained by Eric Bickmore and has five wins on the season and $34,873 earned, his last victory was just two weeks ago at Bangor in 1:56.4.  The 6-year-old son of Betting Line leaves from pylon position.

For Arts Flight, a former, multiple Maine Sire Stakes winner last year at three, he last wowed the crowds at the famous Fryeburg Fair on October 1, scoring in 1:58.  The 4-year-old son of Artistic Fella scores from post five for trainer Sara Harrington.

Race six marks the return of the ‘greatest side show’ in harness racing, the $4,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club event. 

Most of the usual suspects are back behind the Wes Brown starting gate, including: Jason Bertolini (P1, DT Petlot), Joe Burke (P2, Plus One), Hunter Lofthus (P3, Skyway Ballet), Todd Whitney (P4, Keystone Maxim) and Johnathan Bresnahan (P8, Smartys Filly) who is back from his big 1:53.3 score with Manny at the Delaware (OH) County Fair in the Tim Fouts Memorial Standardbred Driving Championship.

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.

For the fifth season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 20.  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 their photograph in the special commemorative program.  Equine honorees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 3.  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.  Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 5.  The 18-day meet continues through Dec. 21, 2025.

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

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.