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.

March 27, 2025, by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME — First Tracks Cumberland is pleased to announce that the initial qualifying races slated for Saturday (April 5) will be broadcast live on the Racetrack Television Network (RTN).  The action starts at 12:00 noon (EDT) in a little over a week. 

Trainers should declare by 9 am on Thursday (April 3).  Horses that have raced on or after November 15 are NOT required to qualify through the first three weekends of racing (until April 30).  Beginning with the draw for the May 2 program, the 45-day rule goes back into effect.

Condition sheets for the upcoming meet will be available after the qualifiers, and additional information is always available on our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

In addition to the live RTN broadcast, qualifiers will also be streamed live via the internet (free) on our website.  Click on live racing/video replays.  The live racing icon in the player box will be enabled. 

First Tracks Cumberland will remain on RTN channel 9747 this season.  Race fans and horsemen can also go to: www.rtn.tv

Opening day for First Tracks Cumberland Spring-Summer meet is April 11, with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) throughout the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs for 17 weeks (34 race dates) through August 2.

For additional racing information, sign up for the for First Tracks Cumberland text messaging service.  On a web browser, go to the following link: https://eztxt.s3.amazonaws.com/777323/widgets/6084704675f167.16040906.html

Opening day for First Tracks Cumberland Spring-Summer meet is April 11, with regular racing on Friday and Saturday each weekend.  First post is slated for 3:15 pm (EDT) throughout the extended pari-mutuel meeting, which runs for 17 weeks (34 race dates) through August 2.

The initial qualifying races are slated for Saturday (April 5).

Trainers should declare by 9 am on Thursday (April 3).  Horses that have raced on or after November 15 are NOT required to qualify through the first three weekends of racing (until April 30).  Beginning with the draw for the May 2 program, the 45-day rule goes back into effect.

Condition sheets for the upcoming meet will be available after the qualifiers, and additional information is always available on our website: https://firsttrackscumberland.com/

December 23, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Driver Drew Campbell closed out the Cumberland Raceway meet on Sunday (Dec. 22) with another dominant display, grabbing a natural grand slam while capturing some of the loftiest purses of the meet.

Campbell began his four-race tear with a signature front-end flurry while driving Alex Having Fun to victory in the $8,000 Winners Over Pace.  Scoring from post 7 the 7-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven set a stiff opening panel of :27.4 while Instant Replay (Aaron Hall) eventually yielded the top. 

From that point it was all over but the shouting as the Kimberly Vafiades-owned and trained 2-5 favorite made every call a winning one, blasting home to a 1:55.1 by a measured length. It was his ninth win of the season, paying $2.80 to win.

Campbell was recognized in the winner’s circle following the third race for his meet- and season-leading dash wins.  The 57-year-old Nova Scotia native had 97 trips to victory lane at Cumberland during the 2024 calendar year, while he grabbed 55 wins during the eight week winter meet.  It was the talented reinsman’s third highest career seasonal earnings total with $1.6 million in purses and 226 victories throughout 2024, where he also plies his trade at Plainridge and the other Maine pari-mutuel and fair tracks.  Campbell recently eclipsed 6,000 lifetime wins.

In the next race, the $12,500 pop up series final for non-winners of $30,000 in 2024, the public was not surprised by the eventual winner, Ranaldi, who cruised to a wire-to-wire victory in 1:58.4 while in rein to Drew Campbell.  Paying $3.40, the Maine-bred 5-year son of Western Maverick is owned and trained by Dakota Niles.

However, in the winner’s circle a bigger surprise took place as 30-year-old Mr. Niles got down on one knee and proposed to his long-time girlfriend Taylor Turcotte.  Only Niles and track announcer Mike Cushing were aware of what would happen next.  As Ranaldi stood perfectly still, the soon-to-be Mrs. Niles accepted the marital request, and the engagement ring, amidst cheers from the bundled-up fans on hand to witness the subsequent public display of affection.

The newly engaged couple live in St. Albans and keep their stable of horses in Sydney, Maine, with a wedding date being set for the not-too-distant future.  When asked what would have happened if the horse didn’t win, Niles was quick to point out that, “I was pretty nervous during the mile, but, I would have asked her at the Maine Horsemen’s banquet.”

And it was all in a day’s work for driver Drew Campbell, who successfully fulfilled a future husband’s plans, and captured the next two races to boot.

Miki De Vie (1:58.4, $2.40) won the $12,500 pop up final for NW $20,000 (’24) and with My Sweet Revenge (2:01.3, $4.00) in the $10,000 pop final for FM NW $1,500 L4, giving Drew Campbell his natural grand slam.

Ryan Berry enjoyed a catch drive victory in the $8,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club final in race eight, and came right back to enjoy an owner-trainer victory in $10,000 TMR 62 pop up final.  Juneparker paid $6.60 and was driven by Nick Graffam.

Kevin Switzer Jr. finished the year as the second leading driver with 88 wins, followed by recent New England Harness Writers Hall of Fame inductee Walter Case Jr. (60); Nick Graffam (49) and Aaron Hall (45).  Switzer’s father will also be inducted into New England’s Hall of Fame on Dec. 28, along with the posthumous recognition of Mike Andrew and Bill Varney.

The leading trainers for 2024 were: Jeff Deslandes (33), Bob Marston (27), Marc Tardif (27), Benson Merrill (22) and Sara Harrington (20).  Autym Robinson led the trainers list for the winter meet with 16 wins.

The staff and management of First Tracks Cumberland would like to send our warmest holiday wishes and gratitude to the patrons, fans and horsemen that helped make our fourth year at the Cumberland Fairgrounds another success.

Harness racing at Cumberland Raceway reopens Friday, April 11 for 53 live harness racing dates during calendar year 2025.  In addition, the Cumberland Fair (Sept. 21 – 28) meet will host eight dates.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland

December 22, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland

CUMBERLAND, ME – Machtu N won the $6,000 Auld Lang Syne farewell pace for 14-year-old pacers at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (Dec. 21), in a nail-biting tight finish with a fast closing Rockaholic.

Scoring from post four, driver McGwire Sowers took Machtu N out for an early lead, and had to work to get around Rockaholic (Andy Harrington) into a :29.4 opening panel.  From that point Sowers lead the 3-5 favorite through comfortable middle fractions of 1:02 and 1:31.2, when the pensioner pacers turned for home a battle ensued for final bragging rights.

Rockaholic had gotten a perfect, two-hole trip while Machtu N had set relatively modest fractions, so the pair were equally prepared for the thrilling stretch drive.  While Rockaholic and Harrington were gaining ground with every stride, Machtu N and Sowers had just enough spark to hold on and prevail in 2:01.2, while the fans waited for a photo for win.

When the judges posted the final order of finish it was Machtu N that had won by a nose over his colleague Rockaholic.  The 14-year-old son of Mach Three is owned and trained by Tammy Sowers and paid $3.20 for the win.

Urbana Bayama (Dave Ingraham) finished third; Calvin B (Mark Athearn) was fourth.

The entire day was a big delight for fans of Maine harness racing as twelve 14-year-old Standardbreds paraded in front of the stands, received Barbara Dresser-designed plaques while being recognized by the announcer, and were photographed with their connections.   

Lucan Hanover p,3,1:48f, a world champion and winner of an elimination heat of the Little Brown Jug, lead the post parade, in the opener.  The son of Western Ideal is owned and trained by Aaron Hall, and has accrued $1.4 million in purse earnings.  During his storied career he was the first sub-1:49 Standardbred on a five-eighths mile track, and also won an elimination of the Breeders Crown during his sophomore campaign.

The entire day was dedicated to these special horses, with the first race marked for the soon-to-be retirees. Overall, the 12 horses have combined earnings of $4.9 million, which is an average of $414,082.  The combined start total is 3,692 with an average of 308 starts per horse.  Total combined wins for these foals of 2010 is 561, which is an average of 47 victories per horse. 

The fastest record belonged to the aforementioned Lucan Hanover, who is also the most decorated Standardbred with 74 trips to the winners circle.  Eleven pacers and two trotters will parade in front of the stands individually, with the average win time of all the honorees an equally impressive 1:51.4.

The other retirees were: Goin Manstyle, Heart Breaking, Ideal Rowan, R T Lange, Rockin Rambaran, Scottish Blue, and Ugly Stik.

Sunday’s (Dec. 22) final card of the year features two $12,500 pop up finals, as well as five races with purses of $10,000 each.  There is also the $8,000 Maine Amateur Driving Club final in race eight.

For the final card of the meet, the Pick 5 starts with the third race and carries a $7,500 guarantee, 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.

Following the closing day, harness racing at the Southern Maine’s iconic oval will reconvene in April 2025.

For more information go to our website: firsttrackscumberland.com, or find us on Facebook: @FirstTracksCumberland