Maine Steaks

[Wawajones]

Finals went for $96,000 and change.  Winner paces mile in 158.2.  I know Bangor is slow half mile track, but still seems slow.  Are these horses that bad?  Will they ever do anything outside of their protected classes?

Seems like bottom round not sirloin.

[Locked in with pace]

Look at the sires and look at their history. The breeding is very controlled with only a few decent sires in the state. The sire has to stand in Maine, and most mares raced their career in the Maine circuit.  A couple of new sires have arrived but time will tell for those. The stakes horses make good money with, I believe, 9 legs and then the finals. 5 horse fields in the legs too so the money is spread around. A few have gone on to do well, but they are few and far between. It's a great program for the locals,

[The Exporter]

I owned a mare who was Maine 2 and 3 year old Champ. I claimed her for 10K. Nice mare. But that was her top class after the sire stakes.
I also owned a Atlantic Sire Stakes 2 and 3 year old Champion. Got him to Saratoga for the spring of his 4 year old campaign, could not out run a fat man. I lost him for $12,000 claim. Thank God. I paid $20K for him. He ended up back in Newfoundland, racing with his own kind.
 The Maine SS for trotters is where you best shot is at. But, it does seem the same 4 or 5 connections are always on top. The races are run with 3-5 starters. You can go a entire season and have just 7 or so different starters .

[chief yogi]

maine needs to let horses that are sired be foaled out of state. its been so protected that the same few owners race for all the stake money.     weekly divisions of 4 and 5 horse fields are also fault of the program rules. no more than 1 trailer hurts fair tracks that might only start 6 or 7 on gate. if 8 or 9 enter its 2 divisions.   also think maine should be like most states. if say 3yo colts weekly divison purse is 20k races split should be 10k each race.
   program needs something.     this year seemed like a fairly slow bunch. dont even know if any trotters might improve as they age.     great for the few owners though.

[Wawajones]

As long as the money stays local, it seems fine.  I just noticed the races seemed especially slow this year.  With Andrews dying, didn’t know if his stock stayed in Maine or was liquidated and went elsewhere.  I didn’t see as many Varney horses either. 

[MCR]

As long as the money stays local, it seems fine.  I just noticed the races seemed especially slow this year.  With Andrews dying, didn’t know if his stock stayed in Maine or was liquidated and went elsewhere.  I didn’t see as many Varney horses either.

Varney  unfortunately  just passed away himself.  That's another long time breeder gone.

[Wawajones]

Sorry to hear of Bill’s passing