Welcome to Scarborough Downs
Welcome to Scarborough Downs Harness Race Track, Maine's Showplace of harness racing and home to New England's fastest half-mile track!
A day at the beach...
Shawn Gray 's UDRS achievement benefits charity
Driver Shawn Gray closed out the 2011 racing season with a UDR of .440, the highest rating in all of North America, an accomplshment that was recognized at the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association banquet in Augusta on Saturday (1/21). Don Marean, the District 9 Representative of the USTA, told the crowd of guests that the USTA will make a $250 donation to the charity of Gray’s choice for his accomplishments. Gray chose St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Horses in the snow!
NIPAS ONE , the 14-year-old who just retired from racing this past December, enjoys a frolick in the snow during the last storm. Owner Dick Tourangeau says he may be 14, but he is very much like a 2-year-old. Nipa is still up for adoption -- if you're interested, you can contact Susan Higgins! He'd make a great riding horse and pet as he has a wonderful disposition. Photo by Peter McDonald.
Bing!
Bing, a retired Standardbred racehorse, jogs at the beach when the weather is warmer but on snowy days, romping and playing is what it's all about! His owner, Jen Flannigan says, "Apprently, it's great fun to bounce up and down repeatedly!" Photo by Jen Flannigan. Do you have a horse picture you'd like to submit for inclusion on our website or Facebook page? Email it to Susan Higgins!
Final day of live racing brings excitement and ceremony
CC BAG A LUCK nibbles a bouquet of carrots he received in the retirement ceremony at Scarborough Downs on Sunday. He and 9 other retired Standardbred racehorses hung up their bridles for the last time. On the left is his former owner, driver Drew Campbell, and on the right, his new owner, Katie Flaherty. Katie and her husband Kevin will be providing a brand a new home for CC. "He'll live here with us forever," said Katie. See the Retirement Ceremony program and the horses that are up for adoption here! Photo by Derek Davis.
Kerogen Leads the Post Parade in Farewell on Sunday
KEROGEN (with Kim Ireland) led the Post Parade in the Free For All trot on Sunday, to signify his last call to the race that made him King. He'll be standing stud at the KDK Standardbred farm in Cumblerland. But Sunday, he was all business and circled the track with the crowds and cameras watching his grace and speed. Photo by Derek Davis.
Berley Retires
Scarborough Downs bade farewell to the 2011 racing season on Sunday with phenomenal racing and the Standardbred Retirement Ceremony. Above is 14-year-old BERLEY with his entorage: Diane Frazier, Lisa Watson, Wally Watson, and Bradi and Lexy Snow. Berley is a registered Maine Stallion standing at the Dupuis Farm in Saco.
Two for Trainer Gray, and Driver Gray
It was a training double on Friday's program for Robert Gray; he had wins with trotter BWT EVERYTIME in Race 5, and with MANZEER, above, in Race 10 (with Shawn Gray driving in each of those races). Be sure you join us both Saturday and Sunday for Scarborough's Year End Awards, where we will honor Mr. Gray with the Loring Norton Award for a breakthrough season as a trainer, along with other awards. BWT Everytime will also be honored as Claimer of the Year (Trotting Division), so don't miss it! Congratulations to all! Photo by Derek Davis.
I Double Dog Dare Ya!
Gray Tops North American UDRS
Shawn Gray put on a driving clinic at Scarborough Downs on Saturday (12/3) scoring 4 wins on the 12 race program while ably demonstrating the grit and talent that has made him the highest rated UDRS driver in all of North America this season. Read the Press Release. Photo by Michael Newman.
Girls Day out!
Racehorses Snap Dancer (left) and Gracie Gracie (both owned and trained by Fred Ward, Jr. of Brunswick) enjoy a sunset frolic at Pine Point. Photo by Katie Flaherty Photography.
Sunday Brings The Sulky Championships and 3 for Gray
Driver Shawn Gray scored 3 wins on the day's program on Sunday - above he cruises to the finish with MISS ANNALISE in Race 5. Congratulations, Shawn! Photo by Michael Newman.
And Congratulations to all the New England Sulky Championship Winners today: IZA BELLA, PEMBROKE EARL, PEMBROKE BOW BOW, and THENOR'EASTERBEAST!
Duelling Blue and Red on the Track!
Father-and-son team, John and Steve Nason, are close in real life but out on the track they're competitors! It was Steve (on the outside, with #4) who had this win with SUBLIME BEGONIA in the $6,000 Free-for-All trot on Saturday. Steve also had 3 victories on Saturday's program -- congratulations! SUBLIME is a 4-year-old bay mare, owned and trained by Richard Robertson, Jr. of Scarborough. If you were here on Sire Stakes Sunday last weekend, you may remember Sublime outside in the pen eating apples with the fans! Maybe that's the trick to winning? Photo by Derek Davis.
After the win in Race 11, Steve Nason (left) waits for dad John before heading back to the paddock. Photo by Derek Davis.
Steve Nason - Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!
Twenty-one-year-old Steve Nason enjoyed two driving wins on the day's program at the Downs on Friday; in Race 1, with THEDEVILSLETTUCE and in Race 7 with 7-year-old gelding, ROMPAWAY ZANE, above, owned and trained by Adrian Wisher. Nason is one of several drivers who will be competing in the "Brother's Race" on Sunday, Oct. 30th for Maine Harness Racing Gives Back, a day of harness racing excitement and giving. Read all the details! Photo by Derek Davis.
See the Bill Green piece on Nason and other young drivers at The Downs!
Sire Stakes Sunday - Excitement, Upsets, and Surprises!
Elizabeth MacKenzie Switzer holds a smiling 2-year-old Garrett Switzer, after daddy Kevin, Jr., won the $85,156 filly pace division of the 3-year-old Maine Sire Stakes Finals on Sunday. In a major upset, CBF Fancy (driven by Switzer, Jr.) persevered in the tightest of photo finishes over heavily favored Barbra Ann. Photo by Michael Newman.
TheNor'easterBeast, owned by Jack Kelley and the East Pond Stables of Oakland, Maine (Gary Mosher driving) was the winner of the pace for colts and geldings, which carried carried a $85,204 purse. The day was full of excitement and an enthusiastic crowd. "It reminded me of the old days," said announcer Mike Sweeney. Read the press release. See all the stakes winners. Photo by Derek Davis.
Read the Steve Solloway story in Portland Press Herald on Jack Kelley and TheNor'easterBeast
See Bill Green's "Green Outdoors" segment on two stakes horses, Maeve and Barbra Ann. Click here for more info!
Welcome Back!
It was a muddy day to welcome back the fans and horsemen on Friday, for the first day of the fall meet. Eleven exciting races for the fans in the stands! Super Cat Begonia, a 10-year-old mare and a Robert Gray trainee (with Kevin Switzer driving), was the winner in Race 5, and was one of three training wins for Gray on the day's program. Congratulations, and welcome back! Photo by Derek Davis
Farewell to the 2011 Summer Meet
Scarborough Downs bade farewell to the 2011 summer meet with the Maine Breeders Stakes 2-year-old Trotting and Pacing Finals on Sunday. Four splits were contested in front of an enthusiastic crowd with over $250k in purse money on the line. Above is One Little Star, owned by George Bellukian of Massachusetts (with Kevin Switzer driving), who was victorious in the $57,371 Filly Trot divison. Congratulations! Read the Press Release. Photo by Michael Newman.
Maeve Trumps her own track record again!
Three-year-old Maeve, owned, trained and driven by Kevin Switzer, in each of her last three starts at Scarborough Downs, has come to the races the owner of a brand new track record each time. Saturday’s performance, perhaps the most impressive of all, shaved 1/5 of a second off her previous benchmark, stopping the teletimer in a crystal 1:56.1. Wow, you go, girl! Read the release. Photo by Michael Newman.
