Jon Gulliver
Special to the Aroostook Republican
Harness racing officials at the Northern Maine Fair say there is a good possibility some track records may fall during the 157th Northern Maine Fair.
Aroostook Republican photo/Jon Gulliver
The Northern Maine Fair begins on Friday, July 29, as does harness racing that afternoon at 1 p.m.
Laura Hunter, the chair of harness racing for the fair board, said it looks like a good number of quality horses for races this year, which begin on Friday, July 29 at 1 p.m. “Bangor stopped racing this past weekend due to the heat and those horses are already on the way to Presque Isle,” she added.
Seven Maine Sire Stakes races over five days may also bring fast horses.
“The purse in some of these races is more than $9,000,” Hunter said. “It helps bring in the best of the best in the region.”
Lynwood Winslow, who handles publicity for the fair, says the total purse for all the races is in the vicinity of a quarter of a million dollars.
“$260,0000 dollars in purse money brings in some of the best horses in the state to race here, but it’s also because the drivers tell us they like to race here in Presque Isle on this track,” he said.
A return to night racing last year helped increase the total take for the race dates, but crowds are still not as strong as officials would like. On Saturday, July 30 at 3 p.m. there will be a workshop on harness racing at the Commercial Exhibition Building.
The selection of harness racing as a Northern Maine Fair Educational series program was an easy one, says Education Committee Chair Roger Shaw. “Harness racing has been a vital part of the Northern Maine Fair for many years, but the industry needs to attract more and younger participants,” he said.
The program will have two speakers, known statewide in the industry. Bill McFarland, president of the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs, will speak on how to read a race program and make informed bets. Wendy Ireland, executive director of the Maine Harness Horseman’s Association, will speak on the future of harness racing.
Folks looking for different sporting activities at the fair can experience the Lumberjack Roundup, tractor and truck pulling, but the most well attended event happens at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, August 6 at the Grandstand.
“The Demolition Derby is one of our biggest events,” said Winslow. “What people like is the smoke, noise, crash and banging.”
For a complete schedule of events log onto www.northernmainefair.com.
