Veteran horses tap fountain of youth at Farmington

Farmington, Maine …. The fountain of youth has apparently been located, secreted somewhere along the grounds of Maine’s Farmington Fair, and a herd of 14-year-old harness racing horses seem to have been drinking liberally as of late.

After three sessions of harness racing at the western Maine venue this week, six 14-year-olds, all in the midst of their final season at the races, have turned back the clock, kicked up their heels, and started acting like colts again while handily winning races in front of their appreciative fans.

Middle Aged Crazy (Yankee Skyscaper, 1:58.3-$4.20) certainly wasn’t acting his age while scoring his 48th career win on Wednesday (September 17) while elevating his lifetime bankroll to $363,120.

Driven by Heath Campbell for trainer and co-owner Valerie Grondon (with William Underhill), the gritty gelding swooped to the lead after mounting a strategic second-over sneak attack to confidently glide to the wire 1/4-length the  best over the pace-setting Hunting Angels (Kevin Switzer, Jr). The win marked the 12th state-of Maine score since Middle Aged Crazy joined the Pine Tree circuit in 2021.

Rockaholic (Rocknroll Hanover, 1:58.1-$3.40) also joined the senior citizen frontal assault on Wednesday, securing his 43rd career win (15th taken in state-of-Maine action) while upping his lifetime earnings to $364,229.

Andy Harrington, driving for his wife, trainer/owner Sara Harrington, sent him into a game first over grind against a determined Lord Of Misrule (Aaron Hall) before eking out the score by a scant nose at the wire.

With four more sessions to come at Farmington and with an unusually large contingent of 14-year-olds racing in Maine this season, everyday may becone Senior Citizens Day at the Farmington Fair.

May the fountain of youth never run dry!

Maine’s Farmington Fair meet runs daily through  Saturday (September 21) with post time each day at 2:00 P.M. It’s signal is available for offtrack and online wagering at most major platforms and brick and mortar facilities around the nation.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sweeney, for the Farmington Fair