Fryeburg, Maine — Nestled up in the foothills of the White Mountains, with fall foliage blooming, Maine’s Fair Circuit concluded on Sunday (Oct. 6) with the six-day meet at Fryeburg, Maine’s Blue Ribbon Classic.

The horse supply was good and racing was very exciting and competitive throughout the week, including the final legs for the 3-year-olds of the Maine Sire Stakes.

Bob Holden, the assistant race director, leading driver McGwire Sowers, leading trainer Bo Sowers and Kim Pike, the race director, pose for the camera. Shelley Gilpatrick photo.

Sunday’s feature race was the Mountain Skipper Invitational, named for the 1973 Older Pacing Horse of the Year. Mountain Skipper was bred, trained and driven all around the country by local legend Arthur Nason of Freedom, N.H.

The feature was won by Opus Blue Chip in 1:55.1, trained by Joe Nelson, driven by Gary Mosher and owned by Scott Dillon. In the winner’s circle for the blanket presentation was John Nason.

The top trainer/driver awards were won by the father-son team of Philip ‘Bo’ Sowers, with eight training wins, and McGwire Sowers, piloting 10 horses to the winner’s circle. Perennial top driver on the Maine circuit, Gary Mosher, was runner-up with nine wins.

Other notables in the driving ranks were Drew Campbell with seven, David Ingraham with six and “Pompano King” Bruce Ranger got out of his starting car and jumped on his bike for four wins on Friday.

As the dust settled after the featured ninth race, the Sowers family was not finished with their winning ways. Bo’s daughter McKenzie teamed home a winner in the 10th race with Millwood Faith N to wrap up the week.