Cumberland, ME — Of the 21 2-year-olds in to go for Friday’s (June 17) Learn and Earn races at Cumberland, Marc Tardif owns and/or trains two-thirds of them.

The soft-spoken Maine native is reluctant to boast about any particular individual or bloodline, but would rather let their natural abilities do the talking.

“We are very fortunate that all of our colts [and fillies] have seen the car at Gil Crest,” noted Tardif, while transitioning from the various hay fields he harvests this time of year. His wife, Peggy, could be heard in the background, adding color and confirming facts during the interview.

Tardif added, “They have also raced well in the annual matinee races in Bell (Fla.), which really helps them get used to things out on the track.”

The Tardifs manage and care for 20 2- and 3-year-old Standardbreds in two locations: summers in Lyman, Maine, and winters in north-central Florida.

“When we come north, the colts are ready, but it is good for them to continue to train off the car until the Maine sire stakes get underway,” said Tardif. “We have been to the last two schooling sessions with 10 each day, and have 14 in on Friday at Cumberland. There are a few that I like, but we always like to take a ‘wait and see’ approach.”

Of the 14 colts and fillies they bring to Friday’s inaugural Learn and Earn, the Tardifs bred one and own five. The rest are owned by Lesley and Victoria Leighton and/or Leighton Property, and they bred all but one of those nine horses.

“I met Les at the sawmill while buying shavings about eight or nine years ago,” Tardif recalls. “He said, ‘If you ever want a partner, give me a call.’ They have owned a lot of horses and built a nice broodmare band since that time. They are great people to have in the business.”

Tardif remains steadfast in his belief that if you have raceway horses, it is difficult to give the young ones the time and attention they require and deserve.

“We sell everything after their 3-year-old season,” Tardif stated.

To prove that fact, the Tardif stable has a horse for every division in the upcoming Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes. Of the 14 2-year-olds in the early non-wagering events on Friday, there are eight pacing colts, three pacing fillies, one trotting colt and two trotting fillies.

Cumberland holds its first round of baby races on Friday (June 17), with the first post at 2 p.m. Each of the four races carries a purse of $200, and are held before the regular races.

Pari-mutuel wagering follows with the first of 10 races going to post at 4 p.m. The $6,500 Open II Pace goes as race seven, pitting recent winner Airspinder (Drew Campbell) against returning 2021 3-year-old Maine pacing champion Call Me Maverick, the latter of whom makes his first start of the season following a pair of impressive qualifiers.

Saturday’s (June 18) card features 11 races and the return of the Maine Amateur Driving Club sponsored by Blue Seal Feeds, along with a $6,000 Open II Trot with three horses all coming off of winning efforts.

The final race on both Friday and Saturday features a 20-cent Hi-5 (pentafecta), with a low takeout of 16 percent.

More information can be found at the track’s website and on the First Tracks Cumberland Facebook page.