New slots revenue leading to better racing

Friday, April 21, 2006

Money generated by Hollywood Slots in Bangor has increased four straight months and the increases are growing larger. The total gross for March was almost $46 million, up $7 million from February and $17.2 million more than November, the opening month. The total net revenue for five months is more than $12 million of which $367,744 goes to Maine harness racing purses.

Higher purses attract better horses and that certainly is evident at Scarborough Downs where all-time records are being smashed weekly. Never before have horses trotted and paced so fast this early in the season.

The season's record for pacers was broken twice Saturday. Gardiner's Shawn Gray drove Mighty Thunder to a 1:57.1 victory in the $3,100 seventh race, breaking the previous record of 1:57.2 Fractions were 28.4, 59.2 and 1:28.4. The 7-year-old gelded son of Drawing Board is owned by Tim Farr of Standish. Gray is the trainer.

That record was short lived. Un-Real Desire regained the season record when he won the $4,200 feature in 1:57 with John Beckwith driving. Fractions were :28, :57.4 and 1:27.1. Owned by Kevin McDonald of Scarborough, Un-Real Desire is trained by Richard Robertson Jr. No horse paced that fast at Scarborough until the heat of July last year.

Snap Dancer, driven by Jason Bartlett and trained by Fred Ward Jr., made it three straight wins in the $4,200 feature trot Friday, winning in 2:01.3. The horse is owned by Bruce Bridgham of New Gloucester.

Oakland's Gary Mosher drove Percee Angus to her second straight $4,200 mares feature victory in 1:59 Sunday. Fractions were :28.1, :59.1 and 1:29.3. Mosher is the trainer for owners Mike Cayoutte of Vassalboro and Jimmy Christensen of Monmouth.

Chris Long drove five winners Wednesday to take second place in the drivers race with 15 wins. Jason Bartlett leads with 17. Drew Campbell has 13 while Shawn Gray has 10. Dick Bartlett is the top trainer with 10 wins. Shawn Gray has seven and Richard Robertson Jr. six.

Scarborough shifts to 7:15 p.m. post times today and Saturday. Sunday and Wednesday posts remain 12:30 p.m. Bangor opens a week from today. Racing will be Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. until May 27 when Bangor adds Saturdays.

Major harness stakes tonight are the $75,000 R J Suslow Pace at the Meadowlands and $8,000 Ten Grand Claiming Pace at Pocono. Saturday majors include the $40,000 SRF Open Pace at the Big M, $18,000 ISOBA Pace at Balmoral and $15,000 Spring Training Pace at Pocono.

The last two major Kentucky Derby preps are Saturday, the $325,000 Coolmore Lexington at Keeneland and $150,000 Federico Tesio at Pimlico. Both will be televised by ESPN2 from 6 to 7 p.m. Other majors Saturday are the $150,000 Bed O' Roses and $100,000 Fort Marcy at Aqueduct, $75,000 Peach Blossom at Delaware, $100,000 GG Sprint at Golden Gate, $100,000 Giants Causeway at Keeneland, $200,000 Jim McKay, $125,000 Maryland Stallion, $125,000 Northview and $50,000 Golden Circle at Pimlico, $200,000 Santa Barbara at Santa Anita and $125,000 Woodstock at Woodbine. Sunday majors are the $100,000 Appalachian at Keeneland, $75,000 Hoover at Pimlico, $250,000 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita and $125,000 Star Shoot at Woodbine.

Lee Allen of Winslow writes about horse racing for the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel. E-mail: elallen@adelphia.net