Cumberland, ME – The Down East faithful will transition from Farmington to the 154th annual Cumberland Fair on Sunday (Sept. 27) with nine harness races programmed at the iconic Southern Maine oval.
Many of Maine’s rural fairs are known for their tractor pulls and draft horse demonstrations, however the Cumberland fair was first held in 1868 with harness racing as the “Maine” attraction. It remains one of the biggest annual agricultural events in the southern part of the Pine Tree state.
The Standardbred horse racing at the Cumberland Fairgrounds will start at 2 p.m. on opening day, Sunday (Sept. 27) with full cards scheduled for eight racing dates through Sunday (Oct. 4).
Post time is slated for 12:30 p.m. for the Monday through Sunday (Sept. 28-Oct. 4) programs.
The featured race for the opening day card is $7,050 conditioned trot pitting many of New England’s top diagonally gaited stars against one another for the Raymond Sawyer Memorial. Two local standouts, Brutalizer (7-2, Andy Harrington) and Jax Spratt (3-1, Aaron Hall) will see if they can catch TCS Brenda (9-5, McGwire Sowers) who has been racing in the Open class on the fair circuit.
Monday’s (Sept. 28) program features several divisions of series that are being held in conjunction with the Fryeburg Fair, which boast lucrative finals set for the final days of that fan-favorite race meet. The Progressive Claiming Series has three legs with incrementally larger tags and purses, with the $9,000 final on Oct. 10. The Non-winners of a Tank of Diesel Series is for NW2 pacers and enjoys three $4,500 legs and a $7,500 final at Fryeburg on Oct. 10.
Always a highlight of the ‘Always in September’ Fair, the Maine Sire Stakes continue at Cumberland with 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 29), and then roll into the 3-year-old filly pacers on Wednesday (Sept. 30), with the 3-year-old trotters completing the sophomore divisions on Friday (Oct. 2).
Once again, Cumberland will host the $300,000 (est.) Maine Sire Stakes 2-year-old finals on Saturday, Oct. 3, with freshmen filly pacer, No Small Wonder putting her unblemished record on the line in her respective showdown.
After the fair, the track’s 15-day Winter Festival begins Nov. 8 and then primarily follows a three-day Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule throughout the season until Dec. 13. The annual Au Revoir Retirement Ceremonies are slated for Saturday (Dec. 12).
For additional information, visit the website at firsttrackscumberland.com, or on social media at https://www.facebook.com/FirstTracksCumberland.