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General Category => Harness Racing => Topic started by: Racetime on November 19, 2025, 05:08:08 PM

Title: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Racetime on November 19, 2025, 05:08:08 PM
Last weekends card had 14 of the 24 races won by favorites paying less than $3 and it looks like another exciting weekend of racing coming up...lol
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Hambletonian46 on November 19, 2025, 06:52:26 PM
We had another thread about this during the fair.

Seems like a track run for the horsemen/owners and not the bettors. Product is not playable. Need to rethink how to classify horses or just run all claimers.
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Sakit on November 19, 2025, 07:17:36 PM
It makes for a good time. Without this fair Maine horsemen would literally starve
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Locked in with pace on November 21, 2025, 05:46:04 AM
Simple to solve the problem. In the past, they had Trackmaster ratings races. The range was mostly 58 to 66 Tm. They also had money-earned races. Ie Nw $1000, Nw nw$1500 etc etc. Now they allow claimers to enter these classes. People are stuffing them. It's a small group of trainers up there, and a vast majority won't claim from each other. Plus, there are others that will never put their horse in for a claim, so they are biting the bullet and getting no money. The claimers are dominating. Put the claimers by themselves, like the beginning days when Cumberland 1st took over. I agree, you cant bet Cumberland the way conditions are currently written. I'm shocked upper management is allowing this to happen, for they are only concerned with handle.
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Hambletonian46 on November 21, 2025, 01:15:19 PM
I know that a lot of folks hated the ABC classification system in that the racing secretaries had all the power, but when I was a lad I don't recall there being so many 3-5 or under favorites, at least in my backyard of Yonkers and Monticello, with that system in place.

I really enjoyed my visit to Cumberland and Farmington...exce pt for the betting! One race I bet $40 and had the straight tri for $5 and the straight exacta for a few bucks more and I think I made $20 lol.
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Pool Guy on November 21, 2025, 05:23:59 PM
The pools are disgusting
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: dougie on November 21, 2025, 05:27:51 PM
The pools are disgusting
All of Maine racing is kind of pathetic. I'm heading up there to watch the races on the way to the Oxford Casino.
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Racetime on November 21, 2025, 09:15:59 PM
USTA FAS shows Andrew Harrington with 8 positives and only fined $500, no days and return over $17,000 in purse money..... what a fucking joker
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: MCR on November 22, 2025, 07:12:19 PM
USTA FAS shows Andrew Harrington with 8 positives and only fined $500, no days and return over $17,000 in purse money..... what a fucking joker
Smells like a rat to me
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: oldjohn123 on November 22, 2025, 10:27:19 PM
I went today the racing was good,but dress warm their is no heat in the grandstand. Is was warmer outside when the sun came out.
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Locked in with pace on November 23, 2025, 07:50:48 AM
We have to thank the people at Cumberland for running their harness meet, for we couldn't survive with just fair racing. But at least they can make it somewhat comfortable there. No heat in the grandstand, no food, freezing cold paddock. If they are talking about looking to open a new facility, they could at least try to make things better there
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Racetime on November 23, 2025, 08:54:06 AM
Hopefully First Tracks folds and Bangor picks up the dates
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Sakit on November 23, 2025, 11:15:37 AM
Hopefully First Tracks folds and Bangor picks up the dates
bangor betting pools are horrible
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Racetime on November 23, 2025, 11:43:18 AM
Bangor puts on a much better card than Cumberland and has a much better facility for the Horsemen and the few fans they have
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Pacer 2 on November 23, 2025, 03:49:01 PM
Smells like a rat to me
   Petrelli??
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: MCR on November 23, 2025, 05:31:26 PM
   Petrelli??
I meant the Harrington's. 8 positives and not a day served? Andy never misses a day driving?? Switches immediately to the wife???
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Jack R. Braden on November 24, 2025, 09:21:04 AM
Does anyone else recall so many races being written with straight earnings, instead of combining earnings and TrackMaster Ratings for most races?

Feels like the combination of recent earnings *and* TRM (and to a lesser extent claiming tags) had been the norm for conditions over the last couple years.

So what is the rationale for so many earnings-only conditions, and could it lead to fewer Maine-based pacers and trotters returning to the Maine circuit after Plainridge ends its meet this week?
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Sakit on November 24, 2025, 09:53:35 AM
I meant the Harrington's. 8 positives and not a day served? Andy never misses a day driving?? Switches immediately to the wife???
that’s not good for the sport
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Racetime on November 24, 2025, 11:08:54 AM
Great racing over the weekend again with many favorites winning by open lengths and have to love the DD on Sunday paying 2.60
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: chief yogi on November 24, 2025, 08:38:32 PM
not only is it all chalk due to race dept. doing whatever to fill a race. been going on at all maine tracks and fairs. some races have so many conditions attached race should just read open to horses with 4 legs. i love it when its a tm 58 or 60 nw500 last 4. horse with no earnings can be a plainridge open horse with at tm of 85.
   other thing i really dont like is race after race a horse that should go off around 6/5 or so goes to the gate at 2-1 and 10 seconds into race its 1-9.  never seen so many 1=9 shots. most should not be that low.
   this year completes 5th year of first tracks cumberland after being told 1 year then there will be racing at a new track. not even a ceremonial shovel of dirt so far.
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: dougie on November 24, 2025, 08:48:55 PM
not only is it all chalk due to race dept. doing whatever to fill a race. been going on at all maine tracks and fairs. some races have so many conditions attached race should just read open to horses with 4 legs. i love it when its a tm 58 or 60 nw500 last 4. horse with no earnings can be a plainridge open horse with at tm of 85.
   other thing i really dont like is race after race a horse that should go off around 6/5 or so goes to the gate at 2-1 and 10 seconds into race its 1-9.  never seen so many 1=9 shots. most should not be that low.
   this year completes 5th year of first tracks cumberland after being told 1 year then there will be racing at a new track. not even a ceremonial shovel of dirt so far.
A new track is a myth. First investors were looking at Sanford for a small track. Then other investors thought being off the Maine Turnpike for better access near Saco had a shot. I don't  think the interest would be there unless a "racino" is attached to the new track. I love Maine! A great state to live in. But for pari-mutual racing, no real chance for a new track.
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: Racetime on November 26, 2025, 12:58:50 AM
Harrington received no days yet Karl Butterfield received 2 months for multiple positives for the same class c drug same as Harrington  ? It's who you know and who you blow in Maine Harness Racing
Title: Re: First Tracks Cumberland
Post by: MCR on November 26, 2025, 02:31:56 PM
Harrington received no days yet Karl Butterfield received 2 months for multiple positives for the same class c drug same as Harrington  ? It's who you know and who you blow in Maine Harness Racing
My points exactly! I've been saying that Shane bacon is no good and been corrupt leading back to his PA days. 
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