by Mike Sweeney

Scarborough, ME – Year-end honors were bestowed in winner’s circle ceremonies on Saturday as the curtain began to ring down on the 2008-2009 meeting at Scarborough Downs and management at the seaside oval once again recognized the crème de la crème at the seaside oval.

Derek Davis photo

Randy Bickmore (left) and Drew Campbell are recognized as the leading trainer and driver at Scarborough Downs for the 2008 meeting.

Drew Campbell successfully defended his 2007 driving title by recording 188 victorious circuits of the Scarborough twice-around to trump his season-long foil, driver Rob Dinning, by a 17 win margin.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career” Campbell commented, “I’ve managed to stay safe and healthy throughout the years and I’ve been privileged to get first call from some of Maine’s top accounts. Winning this award in back-to-back seasons is very special to me.”

Randy Bickmore reigned supreme on the trainer’s side of the tally sheet as 83 entries from his well-conditioned roster took victory laps at Scarborough in 2008, outpacing defending 2007 champion Kevin Switzer, by a cavernous 17 win margin.

“Thanks go out to my owners for acquiring the stock needed to compete here” Bickmore remarked, “And of course the crew at the barn who help keep all of them in fine form.”

Also feted during the Saturday afternoon program was a rising star along the Pine Tree circuit, driver Kevin Switzer, Jr. who won the coveted Freeman Parker Award which is given annually to Scarborough’s up-and-coming driver. Young Switzer finished fourth in the Downs’ driver standings this season with 84 wins – the best showing from his six-year driving career.
Rupert Rupert was rewarded for his 12 wins and 1:54.2 Scarborough clocking (fourth fastest time ever recorded at the Downs) with Pacer of the Year honors.

Cohenucopia took home the Distaff Claimer of the Year trophy for owner/trainer Mark Harris by virtue of her 11 seasonal wins, while the Drew Campbell stable accepted more hardware on Saturday as CC Bag A Luck and My Special Angel claimed mid-level and upper-level Claimer of the Year honors respectively.

By The Knows, owned and trained to nine seasonal wins by Gordon Du Bois, was named Claiming Trotter of the Year.

The remainder of Scarborough’s year-end awards, including Trotter of the Year and Distaff Pacer of the Year, will be presented on Sunday (January 11) as the Downs concludes its 2008-2009 meeting with a 12-race performance scheduled to get underway at 12:00 noon (EST).

Live harness racing will return to Maine’s showplace on April 10th.