Maine’s “Family Feud” to Team Cushing

CUMBERLAND, ME – Team Cushing, consisting of veteran harness racing reinsman Ron Cushing and his sister-in-law Charlene Cushing, scored a one-point victory over Team Nason/Harrington to win Maine’s Family Feud on Saturday at First Tracks Cumberland Fair on Saturday (Oct. 2).

The point system had those drivers with only one drive would have their point total multiplied times two while drivers with two drives would have the score from both drives added together.  Andy Harrington recorded wins in race two (J-S For Justice) and race six (River Rums Deep while teammate stepdad John Nason finished third in his only drive in Race 4 with Runaway Girl.  The combination adding up to 16 points and one shy of the 17 points garnered by team Cushing.

Charlene “Sherry” Cushing, in her only drive in race 4 with Daughtry Hanover, battled a stubborn Bettor Reason N and Kelly Case, every step of the mile.

Case with Better Reason N managed to finish second after a scorching trip that saw Case, never seeing the rail.  Charlene’s partner Ron Cushing had a third-place finish in race one, the Maine Breeders Stakes event with Mach Royal and a second-place finish with Through The Fence in race 6.

Dave Ingraham piloted the winner of the swiftest race of the day, steering Rocksapatriot to half-length victory over Alex Having Fun (Drew Campbell) in the $7,500 Free for All Pace.

Tipping three-wide down the backside, Ingraham guided the 6YO son of Rockincam to a 1:54.3 score, his seventh of the season.  Heath Campbell and Andy Harrington both picked up driving doubles, and conditioner Benson Merrill harnessed two winners.

ROCKSAPATRIOT REPLAY

The lone $16,332 Maine Standardbred Breeders Stake was captured by Sweet Baby G in 2:01.  The 2YO daughter of Baron Biltmore was driven by Shawn Thayer for trainer Fred Ward Jr. who also owns and bred the filly with his wife Sharon.

SWEET BABY G REPLAY

The final day of harness racing at the First Tracks Cumberland Fair is Sunday (Oct. 3), featuring two divisions of the Maine Amateur Driving Club, as well as three rich finals of the Cumberland Fair’s late closers with a top purse of $12,000.

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland for our winter meeting, beginning November 3^rd and racing through December 31, 2021.  Post time 11:00 a.m.

Follow us on Facebook at @FirstTracksCumberland.

For full race results, click here.

by Bill Ellis and Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland