by Wendy Ireland, executive director, MHHA

Scarborough, ME — On Saturday (July 28) the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association and Scarborough Downs hosted the second annual Maine Harness Racing Gives Back charity event that included a day of harness racing excitement and giving back to the community.

Thousands of dollars were raised benefiting three local charities. Candidates for the U.S. Senate, U. S. Congress, Maine Senate, and Maine House of Representatives had the opportunity to meet with representatives from the Maine harness racing industry while joining in to help raise money for three local charities.

Included in the candidates attending were the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives Bob Nutting (candidate for Maine House of Representatives), Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers (candidate for U.S. Senate), Maine Senate Majority Leader Jon Courtney (candidate for U.S. Congress) and Senate Minority Leader Barry Hobbins (candidate for Maine House of Representatives).

Each year the harness racing industry selects three charities to benefit from the funds raised. The charities chosen this year are Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, Stone Soup Food Pantry of Biddeford and York County Shelter of Alfred.

There were charity harness races with five percent of the driver winnings donated to each charity, a 50/50 raffle and a drawing to win a two night stay at the Samoset Resort donated by Ocean Properties (includes hotel, golf for two, breakfast buffet and dinner for two) and can goods were collected for the food pantry at Scarborough Downs and at Bangor Historic Raceway.

Maine’s harness racing industry is a 150-year-old sport, which has deep roots in the State of Maine that supports Maine’s agricultural interests. Maine’s harness racing industry can be found at two commercial tracks in Scarborough and Bangor or one of the nine pari-mutuel agricultural fairs throughout the state.