September 30, 2026, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – As the Maine Sire Stakes competitors wind down their season, one of the last stops is the Cumberland Fair.  Tuesday (Sept. 29) hosted the 3-year-old colt pacers who conducted their penultimate leg over the moist, iconic Southern Maine oval. 

With those $17,000-plus events being held before the card, the first division was captured by Wowzah Clousah who used a pocket trip to best the pacesetting Nuh Uh (Andy Harrington) in 2:03.1 by 1-1/4 lengths.

Driven by Aaron Hall for trainer Mike Cushing and owners-breeders Pamela Smith, Jane DiPompo and Sherry Cushing, the son of Deuce Seelster secured his first seasonal victory over the muddy conditions.

Deuces Red (Steve Wilson) finished third.

In the second division Real Horrorshow used his typical wire-to-wire style scare tactics to put the field to sleep.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. helped the son of Dude’s The Man make every call a winning one, scoring by three parts of a length in 2:06.3.

Trained by the senior Kevin Switzer who co-owns with Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr., it was his eighth seasonal victory.

Dude’s The Jet (Joey Mosher) finished second; Itsjustmoney (Harrington) was third.

On the regular card there were several divisions of the first leg of the Fair-based series that will race two legs and Cumberland and conclude with a leg and a final at Fryeburg Fair.  Aside from their respective Maine Sire Stakes wins, Switzer Jr., Hall and McGwire Sowers each won a pair of races on the pari-mutuel card.  Sowers copped the $5,200 feature with Cowboy Cargo in 2:00.2.

Racing resumes at the Cumberland Fairgrounds on Wednesday (Sept. 30) with full cards scheduled for the remaining racing dates through Sunday (Oct. 4), with 12:30 post times throughout the week. 

Always a highlight of the ‘Always in September’ Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continues at Cumberland with the 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 30), and then all the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Oct. 2). 

Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 Est. Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, October 3, with freshman filly pacer No Small Wonder entering the seasonal finale with an unblemished, eight-win record.  There will be a live draw for post positions at noon on Wednesday (Sept. 30), which can be viewed on RTN or any ADW platform that carries the First Tracks Cumberland signal.

After the fair, the track’s 15-day Winter Festival begins November 8 and then primarily follows a three-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the season, until December 13.  Our annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 12.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

September 29, 2026, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Fans on hand for day two of harness racing at the 154^th annual Cumberland Fair on Monday (Sept. 28) saw local reinsman Andy Harrington win half of the races on the muddy program, not letting wind, nor rain, nor outside post positions stay him from swift completion of his appointed rounds.

Harrington got things going early by winning the second half of the daily double with his own PBR Street Gang in 2:00.4.  The 8-year-old son of JK Endofanera used a first over trip to grab the lead by the head of the stretch and draw off by over five lengths.  Trained by his wife Sara Harrington, he returned $6.20.

The husband and wife team enjoyed their second victory with Blueberry Heaven who took the lead at the half and never looked back, scoring in 2:04 in the Non-winners of a Tank of Diesel series.  The veteran, 12-year-old by Rock N Roll Heaven paid a handsome $14.20 to his backers.

Harrington was on the march again in the $5,200 featured pace, prevailing by a neck with Clapton in 2:02.  Trained by Benson Merrill, the 4-year-old son of Tall Dark Stranger bested the favorite Parklane Terror to pay $16.00.

The talented teamster came right back to score with Silk Road in 2:05.1 for trainer Bob Marston.  The 6-year-old son of Sweet Lou returned $6.20.

Closing out the moist afternoon with a natural hat trick, Harrington won the finale with Benson Merrill’s Mrs Foxy Roxy in 2:06.  Making every call a winning one, the 5-year-old Maine-bred daughter of Deuce Seelster paid $7.20.

Driver Aaron Hall picked up his own hat trick on the program, and conditioner Michelle Lefebvre got three wins to continue her lead in the trainers colony.

Racing resumes at the Cumberland Fairgrounds on Tuesday (Sept. 29) with full cards scheduled for the remaining racing dates through Sunday (Oct. 4), with 12:30 post times throughout the week. 

Always a highlight of the ‘Always in September’ Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continue at Cumberland with 3-year-old colt pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 29), and then roll into the 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 30), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Oct. 2). 

Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 Est. Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, October 3, with freshman filly pacer No Small Wonder entering the seasonal finale with an unblemished, eight-win record.  There will be a live draw for post positions at noon on Wednesday (Sept. 30), which can be viewed on RTN or any ADW platform that carries the First Tracks Cumberland signal.

After the fair, the track’s 15-day Winter Festival begins November 8 and then primarily follows a three-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the season, until December 13.  Our annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 12.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

September 28, 2026, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Harness racing at the 154^th annual Cumberland Fair kicked off on Sunday (Sept. 27) with Jimmy Nickerson’s Dryden Hanover overcoming the muddy conditions to win the $7,050 featured conditioned trot.

Driver Nick Graffam sent the 1-5 favorite Dryden Hanover out swiftly to take command from post five, but not before Brutalizer (5-1, Andy Harrington) stretched him out through the first turn in :30.2.

They raced in single file formation past the fair’s midway, reaching the half in 1:01.1.  Heading down the backstretch the final time McGwire Sowers tipped 9-2 second choice TCS Brenda first over to challenge the pacesetters.  Reaching the third panel in 1:31 over the heavy surface, the chasers made little headway in catching the heavy favorite.

At the head of the stretch Brutalizer emerged from the pocket and attempted to reel in the leader, but to no avail.  A wet, but unfazed Dryden Hanover rolled down the stretch unfettered to score by a comfortable 1-1/2 length margin in 2:01.2.

Trained by Jimmy Nickerson for owners Tim Bojarksi and Tony Gruppo, the 5-year-old son of Walner now has six wins on the season and increased his career bankroll to $191,959.  Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, he returned $2.60 to win.

Brutalizer finished second; TCS Brenda was third.

In other news, the Maine Amateur Driving Club took a walk on the wild side this week and switched over to trotters for change of pace.  ‘El Presidente’ Joe Burke cruised in second-over style to win with Top Down in 2:08.1, returning a handsome $13.00 to his backers.

Owned and trained by Bob Marston, the 7-year-old son of Archangel was bred by Winbak Farm and picked up the lion’s share of the $4,850 purse.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. enjoyed three wins on the program, and Joey Mosher picked up a pair, including a $16.20 winner for trainer Donnie Richards with the Bettor’s Wish filly Going My Way.

Racing resumes at the Cumberland Fairgrounds on Monday (Sept. 28) with full cards scheduled for the remaining racing dates through Sunday (Oct. 4), with 12:30 post times throughout the week. 

Always a highlight of the ‘Always in September’ Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continue at Cumberland with 3-year-old colt pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 29), and then roll into the 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 30), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Oct. 2). 

Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 Est. Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, October 3, with freshman filly pacer No Small Wonder entering the seasonal finale with an unblemished, eight-win record.  There will be a live draw for post positions at noon on Wednesday (Sept. 30), which can be viewed on RTN or any ADW platform that carries the First Tracks Cumberland signal.

After the fair, the track’s 15-day Winter Festival begins November 8 and then primarily follows a three-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the season, until December 13.  Our annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Dec. 12.

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland/

September 26, 2026, by Chris Tully for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – The Down East faithful will transition from Farmington to the 154^th annual Cumberland Fair on Sunday (Sept. 27) with nine harness races programmed at the iconic Southern Maine oval.

Many of Maine’s rural fairs are known for their tractor pulls and draft horse demonstrations, however the Cumberland fair was first held in 1868 with harness racing as the “Maine” attraction.  It remains one of the biggest annual agricultural events in the southern part of the Pine Tree state.

The Standardbred horse racing at the Cumberland Fairgrounds will start at 2:00 pm on opening day, Sunday (Sept. 27) with full cards scheduled for eight racing dates through Sunday (Oct. 4). 

Post time is slated for 12:30 p.m. for the Monday through Sunday (Sept. 28-Oct. 4) programs.

The featured race for the opening day card is $7,050 conditioned trot pitting many of New England’s top diagonally gaited stars against one another for the Raymond Sawyer Memorial. Two local standouts, Brutalizer (7-2, Andy Harrington) and Jax Spratt (3-1, Aaron Hall) will see if they can catch TCS Brenda (9-5, McGwire Sowers) who has been racing in the Open class on the fair circuit.

Monday’s (Sept. 28) program features several divisions of series that are being held in conjunction with the Fryeburg Fair, which boast lucrative finals set for the final days of that fan-favorite race meet.  The Progressive Claiming Series has three legs with incrementally larger tags and purses, with the $9,000 final on Oct. 10. The Non-winners of a Tank of Diesel Series is for NW2 pacers and enjoys three $4,500 legs and a $7,500 final at Fryeburg on Oct. 10.

Always a highlight of the ‘Always in September’ Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continue at Cumberland with 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 29), and then roll into the 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 30), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Oct. 2). 

Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 (est.) Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, October 3, with freshmen filly pacer, No Small Wonder putting her unblemished record on the line in her respective showdown.

After the fair, the track’s 15-day Winter Festival begins November 8 and then primarily follows a three-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the season until December 13.  Our annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Saturday (Dec. 12).

For additional information, visit our website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland