by Mike Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — Scarborough Downs will play host to the inaugural edition of The Festival of Champions on Saturday (Oct. 24) with post time slated for 1:30 p.m. (EDT).

For the first time in the 41-year history of the Maine Sire Stakes program, all eight championships will be decided on a single race day and with purses in excess of $500,000, Saturday’s card will represent the richest day ever in state of Maine harness racing.

Michael Newman photo

Seeley Man will be looking to cap a brilliant, undefeated freshman campaign with a win in his divisional championship race.

All the top horses and drivers will be gathered at Maine’s premier racetrack on Festival Day but the star attraction might well be a 2-year-old colt named Seeley Man, who will be looking to cap a brilliant, undefeated freshman campaign with a win in his divisional championship race.

Seeley Man is trained by longtime harness participant Gerry Smith of Old Orchard Beach, Maine and will be driven by top-rated pilot Kevin Switzer, Jr.

“It’s not easy to get a colt through the stakes with an undefeated record although it has been done on a number of occasions,” Smith remarked during the post position draw (Seeley Man drew post position six). “But I’m particularly proud of that fact that Seeley Man has been charted on the lead at every quarter-mile mark in every race that he’s ever contested. I’m pretty sure that no Maine Sires horse has ever accomplished that feat before.”

Festival of Champions will be the marquee day of harness racing in Maine this season. A total of 12 races will be carded on the day with the first call to post sounded at 1:30 p.m.

Scarborough Downs proudly features live harness racing Friday through Sunday at 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or our Facebook page.