Maine Harness Racing is a Joke

[Kirby's Ace]

somehow Shane Bacon was involved

they were dreaming for a new track but that's all it was-a dream

First Tracks should make an effort to put up the signal for the fairs

"they were dreaming for a new track but that's all it was-a dream"


Are they relatives of MLK Jr?

[Wawajones]

When Joe Ricci died, Scarboro went downhill.  The next generation just sucked what money they could out of it.  Charlie Day closing Lewiston also hurt.  There are just fair tracks now.  Bangor and Cumberland have commercial licenses, but really only fair tracks.  A new track with a full casino would be nice.  They could build it at Oxford, which is owned by Churchill Downs.  It all seems unlikely.

[bello]

When Joe Ricci died, Scarboro went downhill.  The next generation just sucked what money they could out of it.  Charlie Day closing Lewiston also hurt.  There are just fair tracks now.  Bangor and Cumberland have commercial licenses, but really only fair tracks.  A new track with a full casino would be nice.  They could build it at Oxford, which is owned by Churchill Downs.  It all seems unlikely.

Joe Ricci been dead a long time. When I used to vacation at OOB I was at Scarboro every night as well as Sunday Matinees. Place was packed. Good food. Just the mosquitos were a downer.

Joe would always be in the Grandstand talking with the patrons.

You;re right. really went downhill fast, A shame

[chief yogi]

joe had his problems but he did ok running the track.  now cumberlands management takes every penny to the bank. nothing gets put into cumberland. no new track will ever get built. last i heard was an excuse of not finding land. first tracks got its name from the first track development. they have land to build everything.   except the track the horsemen were promised. only 1 year at cumberland was the deal.

[gurals casino]

it has been mentioned on here that First Tracks is a California entity and they were part of the Cal Expo operation

[chief yogi]

first tracks owned by m.chinchette.  chinbro family.   the management team is from cal. they are doing the same to maine as they did to cal expo. cut dates. keep paying the management team the same. fly and put the anouncer up for the meet. its a really great deal for them. maine harness racing not so much. only handle comes from off track. signal sold for less than the standard 3 percent. as a previous poster said. maine harness horsemens ass really screwed themself.

[dougie]

Since "The Downs" closed, we have heard all sorts of rumors about the "brand new track" coming to southern Maine. First rumor was they were thinking about opening up a smaller new track off the Saco Exit of the Maine Turnpike. Easy on. easy off. Then we heard that they were looking at opening a small track in the town of Sanford. On the Sanford/Shapleigh line. A lot of land out there, but 15 miles from the Maine Turnpike. Then we heard neat the Oxford Casino. A pretty rural area. But in the end. it will never happen. Maine is now a "Fair Racing" state. 

[G]

I know a lot of people in Maine nothings happening there forget the new track.

[chief yogi]

maine also has no interest from any public now. same 30 people at both bangor and cumberland. nothing at either track to encourage new patrons. bangor slightly nicer. neither has any real customer comforts. both have this idea that dragging the card out forever attracts handle. its really  boring the people to death. they are no people at the track or otbs. people bet on their phone. no lines. acess to every track.  other tracks are not the problem. racing competition is casinos, lottery, sports gambling. all have fast action. run races faster. 18 mins apart tops. we might get some new interest. right now a new customer might have fun but its a long day for 12 chances to wager.with nothing at the track to keep anyone excited why would anyone come back a second time. fairs are coming up. faster pace. most fairs have some attendence. handle more ontrack. only chance to attract new fans. topsam starts sunday at 4.