Bangor, ME — Kevin Switzer Jr. dazzled in an encore appearance at Bangor Raceway on Wednesday (Nov. 8) as the curtain came down on the 2023 season at historic Bass Park.

Absent from the local trenches for well over a fortnight while busy headlining at Plainridge Racecourse, Switzer wasted precious little time in rehanging his star on his dressing room door while convincingly winning five of the ten races during Bangor’s finale.

Kevin Switzer Jr. scored the first of his five driving wins with Riproy. Thomas Smith photo.

Three of Switzer’s conquests came while teaming for the retooled Benson Merrill roster, who recently welcomed a pair of accomplished Maine-bred stars to their powerful stable. Switzer scored with the veteran Riproy (1:59.1-$8.60), who won for fun while extending out to a 3-1/4 length margin fresh off a seven-week hiatus; the sophomore filly Katelyn’s Angel (1:57.1-$2.20), a new addition to the stable who paid dimes to dollars while tumbling down the class ladder off tough Maine and Massachusetts sire stakes action; and the rambunctious gelding So Rock N’ Roll (1:58.3-$2.20), another fresh face who also took full advantage of Bangor’s also eligible clauses to find the sweet spot for success.

Switzer’s final two wins returned pricier tickets when Creepin (2:00.3-$16.00) crept from seventh to first while traversing the dreaded third-over journey for trainer Neal Grass, keying a respectable $1,171.80 trifecta in the process. He then claimed the final bows of the season with a stirring gate-to-wire effort behind Ranaldi (1:56.4-$11.60) for trainer Cain MacKenzie, engineering the 11th win of the season for the 4-year-old Maine-bred.

In other Bangor news, Dan Deslandes scored two driving wins on the closing day program to cement his claim to the 2023 leading drivers’ title at the Queen City oval. Deslandes concluded the meet with 57 wins (five more than runner-up Kevin Switzer Jr.) while boasting a robust .348 UDR and claiming $204,474 in purses.

The meet’s leading trainer title went to Jeffrey Deslandes (Dan’s father) who sent 48 winners to post over the course of Bangor’s 40-day season, nearly doubling the top tally from his closest competitor, Valerie Grondin, whose roster claimed 26 top-place finishes. The elder Deslandes’ stable garnered $180,574 in seasonal purse earnings while sporting a hefty .360 UTR.

On the business side of the equation, Bangor Raceway experienced vigorous growth in pari-mutuel handle during the 2023 meeting, enjoying a 10 percent increase in daily average handle. Queen City purses were also on the rise in 2023 as average daily purse offerings increased to $44,733, establishing a new record at the historic racing venue.

“By just about every measure, the 2023 meet was a rousing success,” said Bangor’s manager of live racing Michael Hopkins. “Handle was up, purses were up, and to the credit of Maine’s horsemen and women, the available local horse supply continues to rebound. Our commitment to work in partnership to grow Maine’s harness racing industry remains firm at Bangor Raceway and we look forward to a bright season in 2024.”

Pending Maine Harness Racing Commission approval, Bangor Raceway is set to build upon this season’s successes with opening day of the 2024 season slated for Sunday (May 5).

For complete information regarding live racing, simulcast wagering, gaming, dining and hotel accommodations at Bangor’s Hollywood Casino and Raceway, please visit the website at www.hollywoodcasinobangor.com.