Cumberland’s Winter Festival starts Saturday

CUMBERLAND, ME – Harness racing resumes at the iconic Cumberland Raceway on Saturday (Nov. 2) for the first of 19 Southern Maine racing dates, knows as the “Winter Festival,” with some of the Pine Tree State’s top trotters and pacers kicking off the ten-race card.

The $5,000 co-features are conditioned events with the fifth race trot being headed by Buddy Earl (8-5, Walter Case Jr.) who scores from post two and Love Kitten (9-5, Drew Campbell) who leaves from post three.  Collectively the pair have earned in excess of $100,000 this season, and will battle it out in this top trotting skirmish.

The $5,000 conditioned pace is carded as race eight and features Twin B High Tech (5-2, Aaron Hall) from post seven, and pylon sitting Whatchagonnadoboo (3-1, Kevin Switzer Jr.) in this battle of the side steppers.

Overall, the entire program has a lot of action for horse players with eight events boasting full seven or eight horse fields.  The Pick 5 starts with the third race; our Pick 4 highlights the seventh, and our High-Five Pentafecta in the finale—all with low 16% takeouts.

Sunday’s (Nov. 3) card features the $5,500 top pacing event of the week, headlined by Hoosier Shark (2-1, Walter Case Jr.) who is coming off a win in his last start and has won over a third of his seasonal outings.  Of course, former track stars Airspinder (7-2, Drew Campbell) and Rocksapatriot (5-1, Dave Ingraham) will also test the mettle of the early morning line favorite.

For the fourth season in a row First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, December 21.  The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing, or have recently retired, and have Maine connections.  Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with photograph in the program.  Equine honorees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 4.  To enter your horse, or for more information, send an Email of interest to Chris Tully at: tullytrot@yahoo.com.

Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for our Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting, which enjoys weekend action throughout the month of November.  Next Saturday (Nov. 9) will feature the Leigh Fitch Memorial, with the live action continuing on Sunday (Nov. 10).  Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fri-Sat-Sun) beginning December 6.  The 19-day meet continues through Dec. 22, 2024.

For more information go to our website.

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by Chris Tully, for First Tracks Cumberland