by Susan Higgins, director of marketing, Scarborough Downs

Scarborough, Maine — Scarborough Downs is proud to host Ladies’ Day at the Races — The Mildred Williams International Driving Series for lady drivers — on Sunday, August 5, benefiting the Maine Chapter of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure.

This exclusively female driving series is named for Mildred Williams, a winner of over 500 races and a pioneer in getting the United States and Canadian Trotting Associations to license women drivers. This unique racing event is being hosted in conjunction with a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness, treatment, and research.

According to driver and event coordinator Ann Curran, the Mildred Williams Lady Driving Series is similar to the C.K.G. Billings Amateur Driving Classic, with the major difference being that it is for fully licensed women only. The Mildred Williams Series is meant to provide opportunity for female drivers, and encourage participation among the missing demographic of women race fans.

Joey Ayotte, the series leader, and one of the female drivers in the series who hails from Ontario, Canada, is one of the eight drivers committed to racing at Scarborough.

Over 37 harness tracks across North America are participating in the series, including Saratoga, Rockingham, and Plainridge.

The female drivers will compete in one of the 10 races slated on Scarborough’s race card that day; Sunday’s post time is 12:05 p.m. Admission is free. There will be information tables set up by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and they will be handing out information, accepting donations, and selling merchandise. There will also be a 50/50 raffle with proceeds also benefiting the Foundation.

Dining in the Downs Club begins at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, with 2-for-1 dining specials all day. For reservations call (207) 883-4331.

For more information, contact Susan Higgins at (207) 883-4331, ex: 1002 or e-mail shiggins@scarboroughdowns.com. The racing office can be reached at (207) 883-9281.