March 24, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – First Tracks Cumberland’s track crew cleared the nearly half-foot of fresh snow that had fallen on Sunday (March 22), forcing the postponement of that card to the following afternoon (Monday, March 23).  Nonetheless, the track men and the horsemen and women were poised and ready for the second day of action in the state of Maine, which did not disappoint.

The $6,200 featured conditioned (NW5000) pace was captured by Arts Flight and Andy Harrington after following the ambitious, pacesetting favorite Rau Ru (Kevin Switzer Jr.) through sharp fractions and enjoying a perfect pocket trip.

Both Switzer and Harrington left for position, with the former stung slightly to the opening panel in 29.4 over a track rated ‘muddy.’  With the 1/5 favorite firmly in command, Switzer backed off the pace a little and hit the half in 1:01 with Arts Flight (7/1) tracking along closely in the garden spot.  McGwire Sowers popped Vel Larry (15/1) from fifth to start the outer flow, which brought Varney (Aaron Hall) out from pegs to draft that cover.

Down the backstretch the final time the advancers were closing ground while the leader hit the third stanza in 1:31.1 while Switzer was seen shaking and rattling his charge around the final turn with Arts Flight breathing down his neck.

Down the lane the pacesetter Rau Ru drifted out which allowed Arts Flight to skim the cones and advance in deep stretch.  Vel Larry was also gaining ground on the outside, along with a late-closing Varney.

The top pace of the day made for some thrilling final steps as the four horses were heads apart at the wire with Arts Flight prevailing by a quarter length in 2:02.2.

Trained by Sara Harrington for owner Mac Stables, the 5-year-old son of Artistic Fella was bred in Maine by Lynn-Marie Plouffe.  He returned $16.00 while winning for the eleventh time in his career.

Rau Ru finished second; Vel Larry was third.

The swiftest race of the day occurred immediately thereafter when local fan favorite Alex Having Fun went on a 8-1/4 length romp to take the $5,400 conditioned (NW3500) pace in 2:00.4.  Sent off at a dime on the dollar the heavy favorite was rushed to the front by driver Aaron Hall and never looked back. 

Owned and trained by Kimberly Vafiades, the 9-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven is the current all-age track record holder (1:53, Drew Campbell, 8/2/2025) and recorded his 41^st lifetime victory on his favorite piece of real estate.

Last year’s leading driver was back in full force on the 12-race card, winning five races for three different trainers.  Kevin Switzer Jr. took the opener with Soho Leviathan A (2:03.2, $5.40); the third with Undeniablebluechip (2:07, $8.60), and the seventh with Plus One (2:03.1; $24.40), all for trainer Bob Marston.

Switzer also scored with Bare Bone (2:04, $10.40) and Sheriff N (2:02.4, $3.20).

The ‘Greatest Side Show in Harness Racing’ was back in full swing with the $4,200 Maine Amateur Driving Club series going postward during mid-card. 

Perennial tough guy Todd Whitney made his wire-to-wire rout look easy with Duncans Ranger in 2:04.3.  The Michelle Lefebvre-trained 2/5 favorite paid $2.80 from pylon position.  Derek Howes kept him honest with a three-wide backside bid while driving Quan Blue Chip and got up for a close second. 

Drivers Aaron Hall and Nick Graffam each grabbed a pair of victories.

Racing resumes on Saturday (March 28).  First Tracks Cumberland’s Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring season with regular racing on Saturday and Sunday each weekend through the month of April.  During the month of May the track transitions to a Friday-Saturday schedule for those five weeks, after which the calendar reverts back to Saturday-Sunday for the month of June. 

First post is slated for 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

Racing Info

March 22, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Sunny skies and warmer temperatures brought out a nice crowd for opening day at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (March 21), with several regulars picking up where they left off, along with some new faces also grabbing the spotlight, however, the brightest star of the day was driver Dave Ingraham who secured his 8,000^th career victory.

It only took three tries for the 64-year-old veteran Ingraham to find the Cumberland winner’s circle, moving second over with seasoned trotter Little Macabee in the sixth to score comfortably by a 1-1/4 lengths in 2:02.4 for trainer Eric Bickmore. 

Given the nickname ‘Double-Digit Dave’ by track announcer and simulcast specialist Gabe Prewitt during his most recent Pompano Park days, Ingraham lived up to his moniker.  While steering the 12-year-old son of Chapter Seven to his 45^th lifetime win, they returned $29.80.

In the winner’s circle Ingraham was surrounded by family and friends.  With wide smiles his wife Kelly Case and daughter Kelsie proudly held up the bright blue and orange banner exclaiming the milestone victory, while his colleagues cheered for the photo op.

Driving harness horses since 1980, the 64-year-old had 72 wins last year with earnings of $607,509.  Over his 46-year career he has driven the winners of $32.8 million and enjoyed a dozen seasons with a million or more in earnings.  His statistically best year was 1995 where the Maine-native won 403 races and $2.7 million in purses.

Speaking of veterans, driver Mike Stevenson got the day started winning the daily double with Rose Run Yakim (2:04.2, $23.60) and Mulligan Philly (2:02.4, $14.20).

Last year’s leading pilot, Kevin Switzer Jr., got down to business shortly thereafter winning the next two races and the $7,000 featured trot with Big Al M in 2:00.4.  The 8-year-old son of Anders Bluestone picked up his 33^rd career victory, returning $5.00.  Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, he won 10 races in 2025.

Brutalizer (Andy Harrington) finished second; Smooth Landing (Wally Watson) was third.

Aaron Hall also copped a hat trick on the afternoon card, scoring with Twin B High Tech (2:02, $6.20); Zoes Precious Rn (2:04.1; $8.20); and Commander Cathy N (2:01.1, $6.80).

Harness racing has been held at the iconic Cumberland fairgrounds for over 150 years, and this year marks the sixth consecutive season that ‘First Tracks’ has welcomed the first live racing of the year back to Maine.

The 12-race card originally scheduled for Sunday (March 22) has been postponed until Monday (March 23) due to a winter storm expected to hit the entire region. 

The exotic wagering menu remains fruitful with the 50-cent Pick-5 added to the opener.  The Pick-4 starts with the last four races on the program (races 9-12) and Pick-3 begins in the tenth race.  All boast a low 16% takeout.  In addition, the 20-cent Superfecta is available in races four, six and eight, along with a Pentafecta in races five and the finale.

First Tracks Cumberland’s Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring season with regular racing on Saturday and Sunday each weekend through the month of April.  During the month of May the track transitions to a Friday-Saturday schedule for those five weeks, after which the calendar reverts back to Saturday-Sunday for the month of June. 

First post is slated for 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

Racing Info

March 20, 2026, 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 sixth consecutive season that ‘First Tracks’ has held 50-plus day racing meets in the Pine Tree State.

The action kicks off at 12:15 pm on Saturday (March 21) with a 12-race card, featuring a $7,000 ‘Winners Over’ trot slated as race seven.  Leading the group of the Downeast’s top trotters is Brutalizer who was freshened up with a qualifying mile last week and appears ready to take on the region’s dominant, diagonally-gaited equines. 

Driven by Andy Harrington for trainer/partner Sara Harrington, the 5-year-old son of Alarm Detector won his last two outings at Cumberland in December, before retiring for the year with a whopping $73,319 in seasonal earnings.  Sporting eight wins and eight seconds last year, he scores from post five and is listed at 2-1 on the early morning line.

Of course it’s always nice to go out with a win, but his chief competitor, Big Al M, also had two wins and a second at the tail end of last season.  He scores outside from post six and gets the services of 2025’s top teamster Kevin Switzer Jr. and is the 8-5 early pick.

The exotic wagering menu has been enhanced to get things going early with the 50-cent Pick-5 added to the opener.  The Pick-4 starts with the last four races on the program (races 9-12) and Pick-3 begins in the tenth race.  All boast a low 16% takeout.  In addition, the 20-cent Superfecta is available in races four, six and eight, along with a Pentafecta in races five and the finale.

Racing continues on Sunday (March 22) with another 12-race card of full fields.  The featured $6,200 conditioned pace includes the area’s swiftest sidesteppers in race eight.  All of the action during both days of live harness racing can be viewed in its entirety on our website (Live Racing) or directly through the Racetrack Television Network.

First Tracks Cumberland’s Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring season with regular racing on Saturday and Sunday each weekend through the month of April.  During the month of May the track transitions to a Friday-Saturday schedule for those five weeks, after which the calendar reverts back to Saturday-Sunday for the month of June. 

First post is slated for 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

Racing Info

March 16, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Team Watson’s Cigars And Port helped set the stage for the triumphant return to harness racing in the state of Maine, clocking the fastest race of the nine-race program on Sunday (March 15) at First Tracks Cumberland.

Leaving from post two, teamster Wally Watson wasted little time putting his 9-year-old son of So Surreal on the engine to control the tempo against a handful of the region’s faster older pacers.  Hitting the opening panel in :30, the Lisa Watson-trained veteran rolled through the remaining fractions in nearly equal splits, stopping the timer in 2:00.1.

Owned by Fox Ridge Stable and Wally Watson, Cigars And Port was the richest Standardbred to enter the day’s events, boasting $534,540 in lifetime earnings with 29 career victories.  Art’s Flight (Andy Harrington) was a fast closing second, with the Joe Burke-driven Circling The Prey finishing third on the track listed as fast.

Team Watson also won the opener with their own Terror Hall in 2:03.3. Finishing a close second was the card’s lone sophomore, named Odds On King Cobra.  She was driven by Dave Ingraham, who will be looking for career dash win milestone 8,000 when the extended pari-mutuel meet opens next Saturday (March 21).

The second fastest race of the afternoon was captured by Chasing Goosebumps in 2:00.2.  After being parked to the opening panel, driver Andy Harrington cut the remaining fractions and won comfortably with the 6-year-old son of He’s Watching.  Trained by Sara Harrington and owned by Gibbs Racing, he finished first or second in a third of his 29 starts last season.

Jet Wills (Kevin Switzer Jr.) finished second; Here On Earth (Nick Graffam) was third.

The top trotting mile of the day was captured by To My Credit in 2:02 with Alex MacDonald driving for trainer Allison MacDonald.  The 6-year-old son of Credit Winner earned $27,015 last year with five victories.

Brutalizer (Andy Harrington) finished second; Smooth Landing (Wally Watson) was third.

Opening weekend’s draw for Saturday and Sunday (March 21 & 22), has the entry box closing at 10 am (EDT) on Tuesday (March 17) and Wednesday (March 18) respectively.  The condition sheet has been posted on the USTA’s online entry system and can be found at this link:

https://horsemen.ustrotting.com/conditions/index.cfm

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring season with regular racing on Saturday and Sunday each weekend through the month of April.  During the month of May the track transitions to a Friday-Saturday slate for those five weeks, after which the live harness racing action reverts back to Saturday-Sunday for the month of June. 

First post is slated for 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

March 14, 2026, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Nine qualifying races are carded and ready to roll at First Tracks Cumberland (Maine) on Sunday (March 15).  Forty seven horses filled the entry box for tomorrow’s 11:00 am post time, which will be broadcast in its totality on the Racetrack Television Network.

For the USTA race pages and past performances, go to our website:

https://firsttrackscumberland.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CUMBERLAND_Race_Pages-QUAL-Sun-15-MARCH-2026.pdf

With the upcoming Spring meet at Cumberland taking shape, a wide array of age groups are represented in the opening round of qualifiers.  The card sports a handful of promising 3- and 4-year-olds, all the way up to a contingent of 12- and 13-year-old veterans who are ready to take on the teletimer and their peers in the first harness racing action in the state of Maine for 2026.

Race Secretary Andrew Topham has assembled the entrants into seven pacing races and a pair of trotting events for the Down East faithful.

In the opener a daughter of Bettor’s Wish is the card’s lone sophomore, named Odds On King Cobra, she scores from post two.  The Eric Bickmore-trained distaff gets the services of Dave Ingraham, who will be looking for career dash win milestone 8,000 when the extended pari-mutuel meet opens next Saturday (March 21).

Trainer Bob Marston tops the trainer’s list with ten entrants on the program.  Most of his get the services of leading driver Kevin Switzer Jr., the swiftest of which appears to be Bamski p,1:51 ($462,544) in race six.

Race six also sees veteran Cigars And Port ready to embark on his 9-year-old campaign for the Watson Stable.  The son of So Surreal is the richest Standardbred to go behind the Wes Brown starting gate, sporting $534,540 in lifetime earnings.  He meets Commander Cathy N (Aaron Hall) who earned $53,329 last year for trainer Jamie Gerard who has nine in-to-go.

Race seven contains 2025’s richest seasonal earning trotter in Brutalizer who scores from post four.  Trained by Sara Harrington (six entrants) and driven by Andy Harrington, the 5-year-old son of Alarm Detector grabbed eight wins and $73,319 last season, including two-in-a-row in December at Cumberland.  Of course, other familiar faces include Foxy Trotting Stick (Aaron Hall) and To My Credit (L. MacDonald).

Opening weekend’s draw for Saturday and Sunday (March 21 & 22), has the entry box closing at 10 am (EDT) on Tuesday (March 17) and Wednesday (March 18) respectively.  The condition sheet has been posted on the USTA’s online entry system and can be found at this link:

https://horsemen.ustrotting.com/conditions/index.cfm

First Track’s Cumberland Spring/Summer meet will continue throughout the Spring season with regular racing on Saturday and Sunday each weekend through the month of April.  During the month of May the track transitions to a Friday-Saturday slate for those five weeks, after which the live harness racing action reverts back to Saturday-Sunday for the month of June. 

First post is slated for 12:15 pm (EDT) during the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs through August 2.

A complete calendar and additional information can be viewed by visiting our website:

Racing Info