Track records set at fair
The record book at the Northern Maine Fair has quite a few new pages in it after this week of racing. The track was super fast and numerous new records were established.
Contributed photo
NEW MARK – Mr. Nice Guy and his driver, Kim Ireland of Presque Isle, set an all-age track record during Northern Maine Fair harness racing Aug. 1. Owned by Lew Hayden of Pleasanton, Texas and trained by Wendy Ireland, Mr. Nice Guy had a time of 1 minute, 55.2 seconds.
The story of the week comes from Pembroke Spice, who captured the all-age track record for trotters which was a state track record.
Seventy one years ago, the famed trotter Greyhound competed in a time trial at the Kite Track at Old Orchard Beach and went the mile in 1:57 1⁄2 . The mark has stood the test of time until a hazy, humid night Aug. 5 at the Northern Maine Fair in Presque Isle as Pembroke Spice, a six-year-old mare owned by Bill Varney of Bangor, eclipsed the mark by trotting in 1:57.2 over the Aroostook County oval.
It was the fifth win in a row for the Valerie Grondin trainee, last week she beat up on the Free For All-ers at Scarborough Downs. Driver Heath Campbell knew she had a shot at the track record “I knew the record would probably be broke (in that race) as the race before had gone in two minutes.” But the state record was not on his mind “No, I didn’t think she’d go that fast.”
A big factor in the record setting mile was the track condition. “The track is better that it’s ever been,” said Campbell.
The mile also erased the pride of three other horses that claimed rights to the state mark. Friendly Face, Dink Adoo and Kerogen have all trotted in 1:57.3 over half-mile ovals in the state. Friendly Face won the Legislator Trot at Scarborough Downs in 1988, Dink Adoo won a leg of the Joe Ricci Trot at Scarborough in 2008 and Kerogen did the feat at Bangor Raceway in 2009.
As a precursor to Pembroke Spice’s feat, the race before saw Bullville Sue tie the all-age trotting mark of 2:00.1. Bullville Sue is owned by Samantha Warrington, trained by Mike Hitchcock and was driven by Greg Bowden.
Scott MacKenzie claimed his first track record Thursday night as he drove Wayne and Chris Johnson’s All Reved Up to a mile in 1:58.1. It was a new record for Four Year Old Pacing Geldings.
The Maine Sire Stakes participants had their share of track records also. Last Wednesday, Willin Dylan got his second track record in a row as the three-year-old gelding trotted in 2:00.1 for driver/trainer Ivan Davies. Willin Dylan is owned by Douglass Hutchins.
Current Chip also grabbed her second track record in as many legs as she trotted in 2:03.0 with Mark Athearn in the sulky. Current Chip is owned by Thomas Dillon and Walter Hight and trained by Donald Richards.
Stonehollow Goblin rewrote the books for trotting two-year-old fillies as Kevin Switzer steered her to victory in 2:06.0. Stonehollow Goblin is owned by Thomas Smith and trained by Dana Childs.
Cyber Cast gave Tom Dillon and Walter Hight their second track record of the week as Cyber Cast trotted the mile in 2:07.2 in a leg of the two-year-old trotting colts stakes race. He is trained by Donald Richards and was driven by Mark Athearn.
On Aug. 1, Mr. Nice Guy paced the fastest mile ever at the Aroostook County oval as he took a mark of 1:55.2 with Kim Ireland in the sulky for owner Lew Hayden and trainer Wendy Ireland. Forever Finesse took a new mark for pacing four-year-old horses as Mike Downey steered him to a mile in 1:59.1 for owner Donald Porter.
American Village, owned by Kyle and Robert Gibbs tied the mark for aged mares Aug. 2 in 1:57.2. She is trained by Steve Vafiades and was driven by Shawn Gray.
This article was reprinted with permission from Webmaster Bill MacDonald (www.meharness.com).
