from Plainridge Park Casino

Plainville, MA — Mitchell Cushing, behind Sign of Thunder, wore down heavily favored Northern Ideal and driver Bo Sowers to win the first New England Amateur Driving Club event of the season Thursday afternoon (April 21) at Plainridge Park Casino.

Cushing’s triumph was his first win in only his second local appearance. More significant was the fact that he became the third generation of the noted New England racing family to notch a driving victory at Plainridge.

Hailing from Farmington, Maine, the Cushings have been staples at Plainridge since the track opened. Over the years Mitchell’s grandfather Rick Cushing, his father Ron, and his uncle Mike have all been regulars in the Plainridge winner’s circle. On Thursday the youngest Cushing driver made history of his own, as no other family has seen drivers from three different generations score victories at the Massachusetts track.

Threes were wild elsewhere on Thursday at Plainridge, as both Chris Long and Greg Merton posted hat tricks among the driving colony.

The second week of the season ends with Shawn Gray holding a slim lead in the driver standings over Eddie Davis Jr. On the training side a trio of Mainers — Gretchen Athearn, Heidi Gibbs and Bo Sowers — are tied with Jersey girl Elizabeth Carotenuto as the meet’s top conditioner.

Live action returns to Plainridge on Monday afternoon (April 25), and racing takes place every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday during the month of April. Post time is at 4 p.m.