Northeast Harness News, Summer 1980
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trr# SUMMER ISSUE COMPLIMENTARY COPY NORTHEAST HARNESS NEWS SCARBOROUGH DOWNS IS ALIVE Pet of the Year, The Patriots Cheerleaders, and Raceway. WITH ACTION! John Hannah, among others. In the seasons first Late closing Stakes event, Lloyd F. Johnson, General Manager Over the Downs speedy half-mile oval, the top the winner was nin-year-old, Justaplain Kelly, effort to date was T.B.J.'s 2:01.4 trip on the se with Tom Vanidestine in the bike for owner Ber With a break in the weather, and some fantas cond Saturday of the meeting. Young driver, nard Stearns and the Justaplain Farm. The vete tic harness racing action, the young Scarborough Todd Johnson, had the Auburn-based speedster in ran son of Overtrick took advantage of an early Downs season has blossomed into a “ record-break top condition, as he blazed over the four-turns speed duel, to edge the heavily favored Taurian ing" session to date. The latest figures, through with speed to spare for the impressive victory. in an exciting photo-finish effort. the first 24-programs indicate a total Mutuel On the trotting gait, Carl Shultze's speedy Scarborough's 1980 season will continue Handle of - $2,734,562 for a nightly-average of Summer Duke traveled to a new Track Record, through September 20th, with six programs each $113,990. When matched against last seasons to stopping the Teletimer in 2:03, while erasing the week. The Monday, Wednesday, Thrusday, and tals of $2,402,910 and $100,121 in the same former standard of 2:05,- which was held by Friday sessions get underway at 7:30 P.M., with categories, it is safe to assume that the sport of Proud Key. Veteran driver, Don Richards, was in the big Saturday night cards featuring a 6:30 Post harness racing and the venerable Scarborough complete control throughout this mile, which Time. The traditional Sunday afternoon program Downs plant are in for a very successful! 1980- found “The Duke" trotting away from the field will find the first race field in behind the mobile stand. around the final turn. Summer Duke has since starting gate at 1:30 P.M. There w ill be 15-races The cause for enthusiasm is furthered when captured two straight Feature Trots at Foxboro every Saturday and Sunday throughout the we consider that this record-breaking pace has season. been established while racing through the “ down NEWS FROM BANGOR RACEWAY days of May," a period when many of the experts Gardiner Patterson predicted that the sport might not survive at any track, let alone the Downs! Bangor Raceway opened with a positive note Don Richards receives $300. driver award. Friday evening June 6, with the light harness fans of Eastern Maine wagering $97,622, followed by Saturday evening's handle of $86,081. Lollypaloosa, owned by Roosevelt Susi, Pitts field and driven by Walter Case, Jr. won the In augural City of Bangor Trophy Pace in a ten dash program. Bangor Raceway at historic Bass Park will continue its light harness meet until Aug. 2, the closing of the Bangor State Fair. This coming week on Thursday, June 12th. will be the beginning of the late closing Cham pionship County Series with the $1400 Waldo County Pace, and on Friday evening there will be the late closing Four-Year-Old stake pace for $2500, followed by the Penobscot County Pace on Saturday evening for a purse of $2000. RACING COMMISSIONERS Exciting ► . t Harness Racing For those fans who are interested in figures, the total handle breaks down to $1,243,232 in the traditional Win, Place, and Show pools, (45.7%), $347,916 in the Daily Doubles (12.7%), $315,974 in the Quinela's (11.5%), $730,098 in the Exactas (26.6%), and $97,342 in the Super ^rfecta (3.5%). - With a Promotional budget in excess of $120, JO aimed at attracting new fans towards the har ness racing sport at the Downs, a wide array of "gimmick" attractions have already been staged. Much of the credit for the successful beginning must go to the Downs Director of Promotions, Jane Ricci, who has put together such attractions as the Dash For Cash, $100-Dollar Bill Giveaways, Scarborough Downs Horse versus Human Race, Prize Night, and the weekly “ free" Mutuel Ticket Giveaways. Scarborough, Maine The weekly Saturday night Celebrity Series has also been a. plus, with such national sports FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: stars as Franco Harris, Ray Hamilton, Dave Cowens, Julius Irving, Bob Stanley, and- Dennis 883-9021 Eckersley highlighting the early season schedule. (Please complete Reader Survey Yet to come are “ The Incredible H u lk/', Jim on reverse side) Rice, Carleton Fisk, Carl Yastremzski, Playboy's STANLEY V. HALL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MAINE HARNESS In 1974, the M.H.H.A. aided in the formation first term on the Maine Harness Racing Commis HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION of the Maine Standardised Breeders Stakes pro sion all of the racing-associated groups in the state gram. This series spanned thirteen weeks of rac appeared before the legislature requesting finan During the early 1950's a few o f Maine's ing and distributed over $88,000 to Maine owned cial assistance for the newly formed Breeders horsemen started what is known as the M.H.H.A. two and three year old trotters and pacers. Stakes program and the horsemen. This was grant This group was formed mainly because the strong The M.H.H.A. also became involved in the ed through an Exotic Betting Formula which Maine Fair Association had been taking unfair ad creation of the New England Sires Stakes program. channeled specific monies directly to these vantage of the unorganized horsemen. Howard Maine’s own. T.B.J. won the first feature and groups. Sanborn served as the first president ot the M.H. finished the series as second leading money win For the past few years. Sheridan Smith has il.A. Low purses continued to plague the horse ner. served as M.H.H.A. President, leading the group in men and the Fair Association continued to be un In 1975. the 535 member horsemen's group many worthwhile projects. In May 1979. they cir cooperative. Finally under the leadership of Glen began to take a more active role in the formation culated a “Horsemen's Opinion Poll." The results Taylor, who had considerable experience in labor of policies affecting the standardbred industry. were published and areas of concern were pin management, the M.H.H.A. signed the first con M.H.H.A. leaders became deeply involved in the pointed. This year they will once again sponsor tract between horsemen and management in the Special Legislative Task Force created at the the “Race for M/S” which was conducted so history of Maine harness racing. The next presi annual commission meeting and chaired by Ival successfully last year. The M.H.H.A. is also spon dent, Glen Gilman, was also a strong and resource Cianchette. The Task Force formulated L.D. soring a Maine Mall Publicity Project, on June 19,^ ful leader. By now all tracks had come under con 1486 in an effort to lower the percentage of total 20, 21. to promote the racing industry. tracts and conditions had generally improved for handle retained by the state. Meanwhile the In the future the M.H.H.A. will continue to all horsemen. Under Mike Labun's leadership M.H.H.A. commissioned the Social Science Re serve the Horsemen in the State of Maine a as a there were considerable gains. The local group search Institute of the University of Maine to con representative group serving all members associat joined the Harness Horsemen’s International, an duct an extensive economic profile of the entire ed with Harness Racing. insurance plan was offered the horsemen, and standardbred industry in the state. This report tracks were required to carry insurance in case of concluded that Maine harness racing is a $54 OFFICERS FOR 1980 accidents. million dollar industry-in a very unhealthy condi Pres., Sheridan Smith. West Farmington, Me. tion economically. During Dr. Joseph Kenneally's Vice Pres.. Donald Richards. Cumberland. Me. Exec. Sec., Bert Fernald. West Poland, Me. AN EDITORIAL: Treas.. Frank Woodbury. Cumberland, Me. The NORTHEAST HARNESS NEWS is the natural outgrowth of the DIRECTORS FOR 1980 M.S.B.O.A. Newsletter that has been published quarterly for the past few Freeman Parker. West Baldwin. Me. years. From being involved in this direction it became apparent that we Dana Childs, Westbrook, Me. Norman Watson. Cornish. Me. needed to communicate, not only to people within the industry, but more Richard Howard. Biddeford. Me. particularly to those who we hope will become future racing patrons. Edgar Morgan. Greene, Me. Harness racing is a very interesting, exciting involvment for all concern Bill Edwards. Gardiner, Me. ed, but it must be economically feasible if it is to survive. The pari-mutuel handle reflects the success or failure of any meet. To be successful we must first communicate with the public and generate an interest in our sport; secondly, we must influence them to attend and to become involved. This newspaper will attempt to provide up-to-date information about the Standardbred industry and will hopefully promote a better understand ing of harness racing in general — past, present and future! * / # I Jean Emerson, Editor Boom Road Saco, Maine 04072 READERS: We have worked diligently preparing this sample copy of the NORTH EAST HARNESS NEWS for your enjoyment. Our future depends on your acceptance of this project.