by Susan Higgins, director of marketing, Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — The Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and Scarborough Downs present the “Richest Day in Maine Harness Racing” with the Maine Breeders Stakes 3-year-old trotting and pacing finals, slated for Sunday (Oct. 16). Post time is 12:05 p.m. The top eight horses in each of the four divisions will vie for total purses in excess of $380,000.

Maine horse owners from all corners of the state will be entering their prized 3-year-old trotters and pacers in hopes of gaining the lion’s share of these purses.

“When the stakes program started out in the late (19)70s, purses totaled about $40,000,” said MSBOA President Emeritus, Jean Emerson. “This is very encouraging for the industry to have them over eight times higher today.”

But as horsemen know, post position is everything, and can mean the difference between first place and last. On Thursday, the MSBOA held the draw for Sunday’s stakes finals and there were audible sighs of relief and disappointment from those in attendance as the numbers came in.

Derek Davis photo

Jason Bartlett will once again drive the Switzer-entry, Barbra Ann; the team was victorious in 2010’s 2-year-old stakes final for pacing fillies.

Kevin Switzer, who drew post position eight with Barbra Ann in the filly pace division, was disappointed, but not discouraged.

“I said I didn’t like the eight hole, I didn’t say we weren’t going to win!”

He is relinquishing Barbra Ann’s reins once again to top Yonkers driver and Maine native Jason Bartlett, who had a victory with the filly pacer as a 2-year-old. The plan was that Switzer would drive Maeve in the same division, but she is out due to a tendon injury.

When Bartlett heard the news, he called Switzer and said, “Do you still want me to drive?” Switzer’s reply: “You won last year, didn’t you?”

Switzer said he’s just going to be on the sidelines this year, gritting his teeth.

Barbra Ann’s biggest threat, said Switzer, in order, is the Gordon Corey-trained Magic Card (who drew the five post), the Watson stable entry Cyclone Lily (who drew the four post), and the William Varney entry Pembroke Bow Bow (in the seven spot), who had beaten Meave at Windsor this past summer in 1:56.2.

Swtizer said, “I’m confident. It’s OK. The plan is to hit the field with sparks flying.”

Doors open at 11 a.m. Dining in The Downs Club features a complete ham dinner for $10.99 plus tax. Reservations can be made by calling 207.883.3022.

The fall race meet kicks off at The Downs on Friday (Oct. 14) at 12:05 p.m., with live harness racing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 12:05 p.m.