by Jack Ginnetti

Marlborough, MA — Fred Nichols, Bangor Raceway’s director of racing, will be in the spotlight on October 16.

A barn dedication ceremony in Fred’s name at 12 noon, attended by colleagues, friends and family will start things off. Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway and Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association are co-hosting the tribute.

The welcome address will be given by Corey Smith, representing the hotel and raceway. Specoial remarks will be spoken by John J. Ginnetti, Jr., President of the New England Chapter of the U.S. Harness Writers Association. The formal dedication presentation will be made by Mike Andrew, President of the Maine Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association.

Nichols was instrumental in the preservation of Bangor’s Historic Track as well as opening another chapter in Maine’s harness racing history.

His fondness for the sport goes back to his younger days when he sold a tip sheet at a west coast track. He later bought a horse which was an instant money winner after just five races. He was responsible in obtaining investors in the 1990s to purchase the track from the city of Bangor. Several years later a state-wide vote for expanded gambling was approved and in 2005 the track was sold to Penn National Gaming, Inc. and the Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway was born.

Scores of horsemen came forward when the track was about to go under and kept it race ready through hard work. Now in its 127th year of racing the track is embarking on its new role in the 21st century.

After the barn dedication, a live racing program starts at 1 p.m. and will feature a Hall of Fame race for the visiting New England writers and guests. Later, Nichols will join William Parker, Jr., Don Marean, Robert Lieberman, Nicholas W.S. Scott and Ed Bither, all of whom will be inducted into the New England Harness Writers Hall of Fame.

For Nichols it’s been one heck of a ride. And the key he used to get there can be summed up in one word — perseverance.