Bangor, ME — Harness racing has its share of stars patrolling the major venues of our sport, and they, rightfully so, garner the vast majority of the headlines when the daily press releases are disseminated. But the sport depends upon the workaday racehorse, who makes his 30 starts per year, and night after night fills the undercards upon which the superstars shine.
R T Lange epitomizes the latter.
Winless as a sophomore, the son of Art Major won at first asking to kick off his 4-year-old season, taking his maiden mark of 1:55.2 under the bright lights at Pompano Park. A few starts later he was claimed for $15,000 plus allowances, the first of 11 times he would change ownership via the claim box, and quite soon afterwards came to realize his life’s vocation as a lower level claiming/conditioned campaigner.
The roll seems to have fit him well. He sparkled as a 6-year-old, earning 11 trips to the winner’s circle, his best year in terms of wins, as he began to make the rounds of multiple east coast racetracks. He’s plied his trade over the stone dust of 18 different racetracks, winning over 11 of them, and in the process has amassed 39 career wins and a bankroll of $245,843.
On Sunday (Sept. 15) he scored his latest triumph in front of an overflow opening day crowd at his now hometown digs, Maine’s Farmington Fair.
With trainer Steven Wilson at the helm, R T Lange secured a pocket trip behind what would become a contested early pace when Don’tmakeafoolofme (Winter Asher-Stalbaum) took air while hounding Rolandpeg (Andy Harrington) through a brisk opening half of :58.3. As the tempo slowed, R T Lange benefited, as first one and then the other of the front-end combatants wilted under the pressure, allowing Wilson to glide his charge to a 1-3/4 length margin at 8-1 odds.
The 1:59.4 win was the first of the season for the Megan Dubois owned pacer who paid a handsome $18.80 to win.
Facing mandatory retirement at the conclusion of his 14-year-old season, R T Lange seems content with his blue collar attire. And with two more Maine Fairs and then the fall extended pari-mutuel meets at Bangor and First Tracks Cumberland to look forward to, there’s still ample time for the game veteran to add to his resume.
In other Farmington news, drivers Bruce Ranger and McGwire Sowers shared the opening day accolades with both teamsters earning two wins each on the card.
Maine’s Farmington Fair meet runs daily through Saturday (Sept. 21) with post time each day at 2 p.m. Its signal is available for off-track and online wagering at most major platforms and brick and mortar facilities around the nation.