by Mike Sweeney, for Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, ME — For the 10th consecutive year, Scarborough Downs will host Family Fun Day as a day of “Harness Racing Education and Fun for the Whole Family.” Scheduled for Sunday (Aug. 3), the day will feature a wide range of activities suitable for the whole family with a unique focus on the Standardbred horse.

“It’s very important to us that people understand all facets of the sport of harness racing, including its enormous impact on Maine agriculture,” says Scarborough Downs president Sharon Terry. “From how a horse gets its shoes to what it eats during the big race, people can get up close and personal to the animals and really learn about the industry.”

Photo courtesy of Scarborough Downs

Dreamy Starlet, a retired Standardbred in the midst of a loving new career, will be the guest marshal horse at Scarborough Downs during Family Fun Day.

Doors open at 12 noon with the activities taking place in the Grandstand building. Highlights include a live mare and foal for the kids to pet, a horse shoeing demonstration, a harness demonstration, a mini horse, games, contests and much more.

As a special feature this year, the nationwide “Old Friends” book tour comes to town on Sunday featuring the rollout of the latest exciting installment in the popular series. The book (third in the series) by accomplished equine photographer Barbara Livingston and noted harness journalist Ellen Harvey spins the stories of horses which once captured front page attention but have now disappeared from the limelight. The tales of their second careers and homes provided by loving caretakers will warm the heart of the reader.

On hand to promote the book will be two retired Standardbreds who are featured in the work, Dreamy Starlet, who will be marshaling the day’s program and McKeever Hanover, a former racing star on the state of Maine circuit.

Live racing begins at 1:05 p.m. and features the Maine Sire Stakes program as the 2-year-old colt pacing division swings into action in twin splits contested for purses of $9,979 apiece.

Admission to the event is free and open to all ages. For more information, visit www.ScarboroughDowns.com or our Facebook page.