by Patrick Eastwood

Bangor, ME — Chester M. (Chet) Carter, 86, a fixture on the Maine harness racing circuit for more than 50 years, died May 2, 2014.

Mr. Carter, along with his wife of 55 years, Carolyn, who died in 2009, campaigned many horses throughout the years, many bearing the familiar prefix Denny River’s, associated with their beloved coastal homestead in Dennysville, Maine.

Mr. Carter last participated in the Classic Silks Series at the Windsor Fair in 2011, giving him one last opportunity to compete against many of the contemporaries that he so fercely faced throughout the years. His final taste of victory came in August 2006 when he posted victories at Union Fair with Lindons Luey and Magic Kat. It was Magic Kat who gave Mr. Carter the fastest of his 504 career victories with a 1:57.4 tour of the Windsor Fair a couple of years earlier.

Some of the other horses he campaigned included his favorite homebred Dennys River D J, Hanbro Swinger, Dani Rose, Racealong J R, Speedy Sarah and Fabrent.

He is survived by his children, Patricia (Ron) Katchinoski, Dorothy Knowlton, Linda, Chester Jr. and Thomas (Emily); 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.