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.
TO MY CREDIT, winner Camp Kippewa Trot (Joe Shaw photo)
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.
Joe Shaw Photo:Maine’s champion sophomore pacing filly of 2024, Gowestyounggrace, was back in action at today’s Cumberland qualifiers.
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:
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.
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.
Driver McGwire Sowers holds Machtu N and is joined by (from the left) his father ‘Bo’ and mother-trainer ‘Tammy’ and girlfriend Autym Robinson. (Joe Shaw photos).
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
December 20, 2024 – by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland (Joe Shaw photo)
CUMBERLAND, ME – On the final weekend of the meet, Drew Campbell continued his reign of terror, winning three races at Cumberland on Friday (Dec. 20), including the $5,500 feature with Cash Crazy Express.
Known by his peers for his propensity to ‘send ‘em,’ Campbell did just that with the Mark Harris-trained pacing mare, making every call a winning one. Setting a fast tempo of :28, :59.2 and 1:28.1 to the third panel, the 8-year-old daughter of Art Major had Shes A Sassy Beach (McGwire Sowers) applying pressure every step of the way.
Turning for home track announcer Mike Cushing exclaimed ‘Shes A Sassy Beach has gone a mile and an eighth’ yet was unrelenting in her pursuit of the pacesetter. When the wire finally arrived, so did several other would be spoilers, as six of the seven upper echelon pacing mares were spread out across the track at the finish.
Cash Crazy Express prevailed by three parts of a length in 1:59. Owned by Kathryn Duran, she paid $15.60 to win her tenth race of the season and increased her lifetime bankroll to $192,622.
Cantstopthelovin (Dave Ingraham) finished second; Shes A Sassy Beach hung on for third.
Drew Campbell, the year’s leading reinsman at Cumberland, also scored with Skyway Ballet (2:00.3, $8.00) and Benny Is A Jet (1:59, $6.20). The 57-year-old Nova Scotia native now has 92 wins this year at Cumberland, with and impressive 50 scores in just the last eight weeks.
Driver Nick Graffam also enjoyed a hat trick on the program, winning with Time For George (1:58, $7.60); the Mike Graffam-trained Spicey P (1:59, $2.60) and Bettor Cat (1:59.3, $7.60).
Trainer Chris DuBois harnessed a pair of winners, the aforementioned Time For George and Benny Is A Jet.
Racing resumes on Saturday (Dec. 21), which is a big day in the Maine harness racing industry as twelve 14-year-old Standardbreds will parade in front of the stands, recognized by the announcer, while being feted and photographed in the winners circle with gifts and prizes. The Au Revoir Retirement Showcase includes a special $6,000 Auld Lang Syne Race, exclusively for 14-year-old pacers in the 10:55 a.m. opener, led by World Champion Lucan Hanover.
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.
As always, the Pick 5 starts with the third race, 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 this closing weekend, 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
December 20, 2024 – by Jay Burns, for New England Chapter USHWA
AUBURN, ME – The New England Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association is proud to announce the 2024 inductees to the New England Harness Writers Hall of Fame.
The esteemed group includes Walter Case Jr. and Kevin Switzer Sr., as well as posthumous honorees Mike Andrew and Bill Varney. The four individuals will be formally recognized at the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association annual banquet on December 28 in Auburn, ME.
Michael Andrew (1938–2022)
Michael Andrew was a man of extraordinary talents and contributions across education, agriculture, and harness racing. Born in Gorham, Maine, he grew up on the family farm where he could hear, and was called to racing by, the race calls at nearby Gorham Raceway.
Andrew’s love for harness racing was evident in his work as a breeder and owner, where he built a stable of Maine Sire Stakes champions, focused on trotters. With a keen knowledge of Standardbred breeding and bloodlines, he was often consulted for his expertise, including for the U.S. Trotting Association and Hoof Beats for the educational series “Breeding Basics.”
Andrew’s horses, many initially trained and developed by Gordon Corey, have competed and excelled at the highest levels, including million-dollar winner Likeabatoutahell, a winner of the Joseph Ricci Memorial at Scarborough Downs in 2008; Obrigado, a world champion who was named a Dan Patch Award winner as the best older male trotter of 2016 by the U.S. Harness Writers Association; and Rebuff, a Breeders Crown and Kentucky Futurity winner.
From 2000 to 2023, Andrew was the breeder of 159 standardbreds that raced successfully across North America. He owned the successful Maine trotting stallion Boy Band, identifying the horse as a promising sire and purchasing him in Lexington, Ky., in 2001 for $145,000 despite the trotter having failed to race with no earnings in three starts. Andrew also served as president of the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and was a commissioner on the Maine State Harness Racing Commission.
Andrew held degrees from Cornell University and a Ph.D. from Harvard University, and he served for 43 years at the University of New Hampshire, where he was named Distinguished Professor and developed an innovative five-year teaching internship program.
Beyond racing, Andrew was a skilled blacksmith, an award-winning Hampshire sheep breeder, and founder of the Downeast Polo Club. Known for his love of art, poetry, and music, he balanced elegance and humility, moving seamlessly between formal events and farm work. His profound influence spanned education, where he mentored countless professionals, and harness racing, where his vision and expertise elevated Maine’s profile in the sport.
Andrew’s legacy is defined by his character, accomplishments, and dedication to family, friends, and his community. He will be remembered as an exceptional breeder, educator, and family man, leaving a profound impact across his many worlds.
Walter Case Jr.
When driver Walter Case Jr. and pacer Hotrod Falcon rocketed past the quarter pole in 26.3 during a New England–record mile at Scarborough Downs in 1993, track announcer Lloyd Johnson called out, “You’ve never seen it here before!”
”You’ve never seen it” captures the unique place that Walter Case has achieved in harness racing. With more than 11,490 career wins, he ranks 12th all-time with an astonishing career UDR of .364.
Born and raised in Lewiston, Case once said that as soon as he sat behind a horse at the age of 10, “it was what I wanted to do. Other kids were playing baseball and basketball, I wanted to be out on the racetrack sitting behind a racehorse. I just thought that was the ultimate thing.” He began driving in 1977, winning no races in 16 starts. The next year he won 16, then 113, and 192 in the next, his UDR jumping from .236 to .329.
A true phenom, he was the youngest driver to hit most driving milestones, including the youngest, at age 30, to win 5,000 races, in 1992.
As Case quickly achieved driving success, he advanced from Maine to New York and to New Jersey’s Garden State Park and the Meadowlands, and then Chicago. He drove many top horses of his time including Cambest, Gallo Blue Chip, and Anniecrombie, driving the great mare to a mile of 1:55.4 at Sportsman’s Park in 1987, at the time the fastest mile by a filly or mare over a five-eighths track in racing history. In 1993, he drove Captain Pantastic to a huge upset ($182 to win) over Little Brown Jug winner Life Sign at Freehold Raceway in the James B. Dancer Memorial.
Earning multiple Harness Tracks of American Driver of the Year honors, Case made history in 1998 by becoming the first driver to achieve 1,000 wins in a single year, setting a record with 1,077 wins with a gaudy UDR of .506. That year, Case won an astonishing 36 percent of the time while hitting the board at a 67 percent clip. In 2000 at Northfield Park, he became the first driver to win 10 races (out of 13), and was the leading driver nationally in 2002.
“His mind and hands can measure the courage and speed of a horse and extract the right combination of both to finish a nose ahead of the pack at the end of a mile,” wrote Anthony Aliberti in the Lewiston Journal in 1984, the year Case received the Peter Haughton Award as the best young driver in the sport. Case was always a consummate scholar of racing, seeking an edge by studying the program and reviewing replays to learn about all the horses in a race.
Case’s capacity to coax speed from horses was so remarkable that his 1:52.4 Scarborough Downs track-record performance with Hotrod Falcon in 1993 endured for a quarter century.
Kevin Switzer Sr.
In the late summer of 1984, an unheralded young horseman named Kevin Switzer arrived in Maine from Jamesburg, N.J., with two cheap horses, Pine Jet and Just For Practice. Having grown up on a thoroughbred farm, Switzer had worked in home construction. But he longed to get back in the racing business, and trekking to Maine put Switzer on the path to success.
From auspicious and humble beginnings, Switzer seized opportunities along the way to develop into a consummate harness racing professional, excelling in all facets of the sport: as a driver, a trainer who excels with both colts and older horses, and a breeder.
His first big splash was in 1989, making the most of a catch drive in a leg of the North American Pacing Series at Lewiston Raceway when driver Jack Moiseyev was unable to drive. Switzer sent the longshot Out To Score to the lead, scoring the win in a startling time of 1:55.1 — a state record. “I wanted that record,” he said afterward. “I was rocking, hollering, and screaming in the lane to keep him alive.”
Then there was his success with the notorious My Bill Troy, an unruly Maine colt by the great My Bill Forwood that other trainers refused to work with. Seizing the opportunity, Switzer used patience and DIY creativity, including a specially designed race bike to protect him from the colt’s kicks, to create a blazing fast competitor. Cementing Switzer’s training reputation, My Bill Troy won eight of 10 races as a two-year-old in 1990 and was undefeated (16 for 16) as a 3-year-old in 1991.
A perennial leading trainer in Maine in the 1990s, capturing Trainer of the Year honors at Scarborough Downs, he established in 2000 KDK Standardbreds, an initialism that stands for Kevin, Denise (McNitt, his wife, who is a veterinarian), and his son Kevin Jr. Since then, the success of the owner-trainer-breeder operation has been wide-reaching, with horses competing and thriving in Maine, at Plainridge Park, and throughout the Northeast. In 2010, the open mare Shady Sabrina paced the Scarborough oval in 1:53.1, still among the top 25 fastest miles paced in Maine.
KDK Standardbreds has produced many talented homebreds. Perhaps the best was Apple Bottom Jeans, a top stakes filly in Delaware who became a top open mare along the East Coast with earnings of over $1 million, a mark of 1:50.1, and 32 wins from 104 starts from 2015 to 2020. Success has continued into today: As recently as November, KDK Standardbreds’ homebred Heinikin Bythebay captured the open pace at Plainridge, and now has 31 career wins from just 79 starts and lifetime earnings of nearly $600,000.
In his career, Switzer has 1,261 training wins from 5,494 starts, for a UTR of .353 and $7.4 million in earnings. Now retired as a driver, he won 3,446 races from 21,431 starts for a UDR of .268 and earnings of $9.2 million.
The secret of his success? “I just love horses,” he once said.
Bill Varney(1941–2024)
William “Bill” Varney was a lifelong advocate for harness racing and an accomplished Standardbred breeder who left an indelible mark on the sport.
As a little boy growing up during World War II, he lived with his grandparents in Pembroke, Maine, while his father was in the U.S. Navy. After chores were done at his grandparents’ general store and feed business, Varney and his grandfather, Leavitt Hatch, headed to the local harness track in West Pembroke to work with Hatch’s stable. Thus began Varney’s deep love for harness racing and a deep respect for the sport’s family roots in Maine.
Varney became one of the most prominent breeders in the industry with a substantial operation based at his Bangor farm that has produced more than 100 Standardbreds under the “Pembroke” name. Developed by the driving and training team of Heath Campbell and Valerie Grondin, Varney’s Pembroke horses have been dominant performers in the Maine Sire Stakes year after year and gone on to become backbone overnight performers in Maine and across North America. Three times, Varney’s horses won the prestigious Joseph Ricci Memorial Invitational at Scarborough Downs, twice with Star’s Photo and a third time with his homebred Pembroke Prayer, whose 1:57.3 win equaled the all-age track record at Scarborough Downs.
Beyond breeding, Varney played an influential role in the governance and promotion of harness racing. As a commissioner on the Maine State Harness Racing Commission, he worked tirelessly to enhance the industry in Maine, advocating for better support for breeders and trainers. His commitment to the sport extended to ensuring the humane treatment of retired racehorses. Varney’s passion for harness racing was matched by his generosity, as he supported countless stakeholders in the industry, helping them achieve success and sustain the legacy of the sport.
Outside of harness racing, Varney was a remarkable entrepreneur with a career spanning multiple industries. “I’ve always thought of myself as a starter and motivator,” he once said. He built a diverse business portfolio that included Varney Auto Supply, a chain of auto parts stores; car dealerships; and Varney Insurance, which grew into a prominent firm with locations across Maine, New York, and New Jersey.
His ventures also included real estate development and Premium Choice Broadband, a company providing fiber internet to rural communities. Known for his work ethic, integrity, and commitment to his family, Varney exemplified the values of hard work and resilience, making a lasting impact in both his professional endeavors and the harness racing community.
