December 22, 2025 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – A day in the life of a harness racing track man is anything but routine.  Depending upon the weather, the team of Bruce Kilton and Michael Bilodeau could be working all day, all night, or all day and night on the racing surface at First Tracks Cumberland.

Prior to the Sunday (Dec. 21) card the dynamic duo had been maintaining the track for the previous 48 hours straight, which saw them responding to rain, freezing temps and high winds as it wreaked havoc upon the stone dust, and the horse people, of Southern Maine. 

As expected, the track lost power on Friday (Dec. 19) during a storm which produced an inch of rain coupled with gusts up to 60 miles per hour.  While power crews and linemen worked feverishly overnight to restore electricity, Kilton and Bilodeau went to work to ‘freeze dry’ the racing surface so that the track’s 17th winter card, and the Au Revoir retirement ceremonies, could be held on Saturday (Dec. 20).

“We knew that it was going to be a long night,” noted Kilton who has been driving big trucks and heavy equipment his entire life.  The Portland-born 56-year-old was the track man at Scarborough before that facility closed, and moved over to Cumberland in 2022.

“Ultimately, we cannot start working on the track until, number one, it stops raining and, number two, the track starts freezing back up,” Kilton added.

“The conditioner is our best piece of equipment for getting the track ready to race,” he continued.  “We like to keep a cushion on the surface as best we can so the horses get a break from the firmer conditions evident on the fair circuit.”

Speaking of fairs, Michael Bilodeau grew up at the Rochester (Maine) Fair and has been driving track implements since he was “2-years-old” noted the lifelong New England resident. 

The 35-year-old stated, “As I got older I went on to do the Oxford Fair, then went to Pompano, then to Scarborough Downs and began here when Cumberland opened in 2021.”

Bilodeau learned from his experience in South Florida to add more stone dust to the track after a rain to help soak up the water.  But he also credits New York’s Kim Crawford with providing him timely advice when necessary.

First Tracks General Manager Ben Kenney gave him the nickname ‘Pompano Mike’ back when he first came aboard, and the moniker has stuck.

“Bruce and Mike are an invaluable part of our track’s day to day operations,” Kenney stated. 

“They battle all types of weather conditions and the mayhem it leaves on the track surface.  One of the best parts about the team is that they both approach situations in different ways.  In doing so, it makes them highly effective,” Kenney added.

“But most of all we appreciate that no matter what the situation they have a great attitude and a good sense of humor … which is always required when you’re a track man in Maine.”

The proof of all the hard work and dedication to the track surface was on full display on Sunday (Dec. 21) when several series finals went postward at Cumberland.  The featured $12,500 Blitzen Pop-Up Series final went to Hespoisedtopounce A in a wire-to-wire romp for driver Aaron Hall.

Tripping the timer in 1:59 for trainer Jimmy Nickerson and owners Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo, the 9-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight returned $3.40 to his backers.

The $10,000 Comet series final was captured by Cigars And Port in 1:57.4 for driver Wally Watson who co-owns with Fox Ridge Stable.  The 8-year-old son of So Surreal is trained by Lisa Watson and paid $9.60.

Jones Hanover took the $10,000 Dasher final in 1:59.3 in wire-to-wire fashion for driver Kevin Switzer Jr.  Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, the 4-year-old son of Huntsville returned $3.40.

Todd Whitney took the $7,500 Maine Amateur Driving Club final with Legal Bettor in 1:58.3.  Scoring by 6-1/2 lengths with the 10-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight, the Lefebvre owned and trained pacer paid $2.20.

Driver Aaron Hall grabbed a natural hat trick and leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. picked up three of his own on the card, and was recognized for topping the leaderboard (116 wins and counting) at Cumberland for the 2025 calendar year. 

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

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