Bangor, ME – Driver Heath Campbell celebrated his 54th birthday in grand fashion at Bangor Raceway on Sunday (Oct. 26), winning four races over his home-based course, while friends and family roared their enthusiastic approval.
Campbell embarked upon his grand slam sojourn with the very first call to post, frolicking on the front-end with the Maritime-bred, Tobins Storm (2:01.4-$3.20). The sophomore son of Stag Party made his first stateside start a winning one for new conditioner, David Crochere, who trains the up-and-coming gelding for owner, G Russell Austin.
The party then picked up steam as Campbell and Gemstone Pillar (2:00.4-$6) cruised in pillar-to-post fashion. The 4-year-old son of Southwind Frank won for only the second time while out on the engine, posting his 10th career victory under the tutelage of trainer Mark Harris and co-owners Gayle Harris and Derek Robishaw.
Excalibur Seelster (2:01-$7.40) then unsheathed his sword as Campbell fired his third winning salvo, carefully controlling the tempo on pike patrol, while guiding the 9-year-old son of Sunshine Beach to a head margin at the wire. The win marked the 22nd career score for the veteran pacer trained by Wilbur Brown for owner John Kenney.
The icing on Campbell’s birthday cake was provided by Sweet Scarlett (2:01.3-$5.80) after a deep, second-over rally bid resulted in the first win of the season for the 4-year-old daughter of Boston Red Rocks. The mare is trained by Kandace Niles for owner Carl Wharton IV.
Campbell, a perennial powerhouse along the New England circuit, now boasts 5,850 lifetime driving wins with career purse earnings of $20.98 million. He currently resides in second place on the Bangor Raceway leaderboard with 50 local wins this season, 16 fewer than Kevin Switzer Jr., this year’s top stick at Bangor.
In other Bangor news, driver Aaron Hall scored twin wins on Sunday, lighting the board at 27-1 odds with Quan Blue Chip (1:59.2-$57.40) and later with the chalk-players’ delight, Echos Sharkie (1:59-$2.80), both horses hailing from the lightning hot Jamie Gerard roster.
Driver Michael Stevenson and trainer Ralph D’Amelio II also teamed up to deliver a pair of victories on Sunday, earning back-to-back winner’s circle sessions with Hide The Wick (2:01.4-$5.40) and Mornin Captain (1:57.4-$8.20).
Live harness racing at Bangor Raceway will resume on Wednesday (Oct. 29) with post time at 3 p.m. (EDT). Closing day of the 2025 Bangor meet will be Saturday (Nov. 1), with a 12:10 p.m. starting time.
For those not able to come to the track, wagering and live video for Bangor Raceway, as well as hundreds of harness and Thoroughbred racetracks across the world, is available on Hollywood Races at www.hollywoodraces.com.
For complete information regarding live racing, simulcast wagering, gaming, dining, and hotel accommodations at Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and Raceway, please visit the website at www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com.