by Michael M. Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — With 100 career wins divided equally between them, Billsboybob and Pine Magic closed out brilliant racing careers this weekend at Scarborough Downs as the pair paraded victoriously into the winner’s circle one final time before heading off to green pastures and well earned retirement.

Billsboybob called it quits while still at the top of his game as the 14-year-old son of Dakota Spur took his 50th career curtain call on Saturday (November 24) following a well-rated, gate-to-wire effort with veteran catch-driver Doug Gray at the helm. This win came on the heels of last week’s victory in which he crossed over the $100,000 plateau in lifetime earnings.

Billsboybob took his lifetime mark of 1:56.4 earlier this season at Rockingham Park, which earned the veteran trotter the distinction of becoming the fastest 14-year-old trotter in the history of the sport.

Bred by Mary Jane Cybak of Brookfield, Ohio, Billsboybob began his career by winning three legs and the consolation of the Ohio Fair Stakes as a 2-year-old. Then, racing game throughout the years, he highlighted his 14-year-old season by sweeping the Hank Fenno Memorial Trotting Series at Scarborough Downs.

Billsboybob is currently owned by Heidi Rohr of Scarborough, Maine and Robert Gray of Oxford, Maine.

Pine Magic capped off his remarkable career on Sunday (November 25) in the precise spot where it all began — entering the very same winner’s circle where he celebrated his maiden victory with a 2:12.2 score over a muddy surface back in 1999 — a journey that certainly could not have foretold the incredible success that would await him.

Sunday’s victory marked the 50th lifetime win for the 11-year-old trotter who has raced almost exclusively in New England throughout his career.

Incredibly, 35 of those victory laps were taken after contesting Open or Invitational events as he repeatedly challenged — and often defeated — the best local trotters of his generation en route to earning in excess of $157,000 in purse money and trotting to a lifetime standard of 1:58.

He twice won Bangor Raceway’s Shrine Memorial Trot (2001 and 2003) and in 2001 took top honors in a leg of the Battle of Saratoga.

Pine Magic was bred by KMW Farms of Bethel Park, Pa., and was owned since a yearling by Lew Hayden of Pleasanton, Texas.

Impressively, Pine Magic remained housed in the Wendy Ireland Stable throughout every step of his racing career and with the exception of two qualifying races and one fair start, felt only the steady hand of driver Kim Ireland holding the lines during his 190 lifetime starts.

Having closed out their careers with storybook endings, Billsboybob and Pine Magic will return to the raceway one final time next month as Scarborough Downs, in cooperation with the Maine Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization, hosts a special retirement ceremony during the December 9 card.

The event is open to all 14-year-olds who had ever raced at Scarborough, as well as any current participants who will be hanging up their bridles this season.

Other horses currently scheduled to be feted include Rush Rush Russ, Running Home N, Patrick Henry, Mens Club, One On One and Ships Mutiney, with a special tribute planned for the late Ray’s Dilemma A.

For more information regarding the retirement ceremony or to have your horse included, please contact Susan Higgins or Mike Sweeney at (207) 883-4331.

Scarborough Downs proudly presents live harness racing every Saturday through Tuesday afternoon with first post scheduled for 12:05 p.m. (EST).