Harness action back at Bangor Raceway

Bangor, Maine – Harness racing returns to Maine’s northern circuit when Bangor Raceway swings back into action on Wednesday afternoon (5-3).

Post time is slated for 3:15 p.m. (EDT) at Bangor’s historic Bass Park, which has continuously hosted harness racing since President Grover Cleveland began his second administration in 1893.

A strong twelve race program has been crafted by Bangor’s new race secretary Jean Thayer who was pleased with the inaugural box of the new season.

“The horsemen responded enthusiastically for the opening day card” Thayer remarked, “Both the numbers and the quality of the horses entered bode well for a successful meet this year at Bangor and we can’t wait to get racing again.”

Prolific in Wednesday’s entry box were horses from the Powerful Deslandes roster. The Deslandes clan, made up of trainer Jeffrey Deslandes and his son and driver Dan Deslandes will send fourteen horses to post over the twelve-race program.

“We currently have 22 horses stabled on the grounds at Bangor so naturally we are trying to race as many as possible at the home track” explained Jeffrey Deslandes, “It will be a busy day for sure, but we’ve got a solid team behind us. Hopefully it will be a successful day.”

Dan Deslandes, the 2022 leading driver at Bangor Raceway is part of a stellar driving colony this season at the Queen City oval. Joining him in the teamster trenches will be Bruce Ranger who currently sits just 12 wins shy of his 10,000th career victory; Walter Case, Jr, the dean of current state of Maine drivers with over 11,000 lifetime scores; Gary Mosher  who has his sights set on the 7000 win plateau, Nick Graffam who is 13 wins away from joining the Mr 1000 club; and a cast of accomplished regulars which include Drew and Heath Campbell, Kevin Switzer, Jr, Wallace Watson and Shawn Thayer.

Bangor will conduct its 2023 spring/summer meeting on a twice a week schedule with racing featured on Wednesdays at 3:15 p.m. with the popular Sunday matinees getting underway at 12:15 p.m.

For Wednesday’s race entries, click here.

by Mike Sweeney, for Bangor Raceway