Scarborough, ME – Big League harness racing returns to Scarborough Downs on Saturday (July 13) as the 70-year-old southern Maine racing venue plays host to the $25,000 Mid-Summer Classic Invitational – the biggest race of the 2019 harness racing season.

Post time for the eleven race racing card, which will co-feature four divisions of the Maine Sire Stakes program, is slated for 4:30 p.m.

Last year’s Mid-Summer Classic saw JJs Jet and driver Drew Campbell set a new track record of 1:52.3, erasing the longtime standard of 1:52.4 that was established in the 1993 edition of the Presidents Pace by Hotrod Falcon and Walter Case, Jr.

This year’s field appears fully capable of surpassing that effort.

Bettors Fire N, the winner of over $810K and 49 races in his career, has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite. When last seen at the Downs in June, he claimed victory in the Dirigo Pace Invitational, timed in a sizzling 1:53, just two-fifths of a second off the overall track record. Driven by Ron Cushing, he will score from post four.

Calvin B will truck up from Saratoga Raceway as state of Maine native trainer, Jimmy Nickerson, makes a homecoming appearance. This razor sharp pacer with a lifetime mark of 1:49.2 will be handled by Nickerson’s nephew and regular Scarborough Downs driver, Matthew Athearn, and will score from the coveted rail position.

StormyWeatherAhead, a 2019 Maine Sire Stakes divisional champion, will make his first state of Maine appearance of the year for trainer Marc Tardif. The four-year-old Maine-bred sits just three races removed from establishing a lifetime speed record of 1:52.2 at Plainridge Racecourse and will be driven by Kevin Switzer, Jr from post number two.

Zack Lee, a winner of 12 races this season will be a featured player in the $25,000 Mid-Summer Classic on Saturday. Michael Newman photo.

Zack Lee, a 12-time winner already this season, will score from post number three for driver/trainer Dan Deslandes. Capable of stepping off the starting gate in the blink of an eye, this veteran pacer figures to ensure honest fractions, much as he did in his runner-up performance in June’s Dirigo Pace.

Quick Shot trucks up from Plainridge Racecourse for owner/trainer Kathleen Brewer and will be piloted from post five by Scarborough’s leading driver, Drew Campbell. With career earnings in excess of $350K and a lifetime speed record of 1:50.4, this veteran campaigner has now finished runner-up in 5 of his last 8 starts versus top level metropolitan talent.

In addition to top flight racing action, the fans will have an opportunity to win concert tickets, a gas grill, and other great prizes during giveaway drawings held after every race on the card. Prizes for this promotion were provided by the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association.

An exciting interactive display called the Virtual Reality Driving Experience will be available in the grandstand facility during the entire program, giving fans the chance feel the thrills of driving in a harness race through a cutting edge VR simulation.

A $7 BBQ chicken dinner along with other gastric specialties will be proudly served up in the Grandstand Grill.

Live harness racing is featured three days a week at Scarborough Downs with 4:30 p.m. twilight cards slated for Thursdays and Saturdays while the popular Sunday matinees go to post at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or visit our Facebook page.