Eric Bickmore News Today

French trotter Elegant Dulupin FR was parked every step of the way and resolutely prevailed over the favorite McStoned Again to take Friday’s (April 19) $8,219 featured trot at Cumberland.

The final day of the First Tracks Cumberland’s Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meet included an appearance by Santa Claus in the first race, along with a thrilling dead heat in the $10,000 Holly Late Closer Series final on Christmas Eve Sunday, Dec. 24.

Retiring pacer Ira Chief made his final official start as a 14-year-old a winning one, conquering his peers in the $6,000 Auld Lang Syne race at Cumberland on Saturday (Dec. 23), which was part of the track’s third annual Au Revoir Retirement Showcase.

Veteran reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. put on a driving clinic on Friday, Dec. 8 at First Tracks Cumberland, winning five races on the 11-race program, including half of the six divisions of the first leg of the Gingerbred Late Closing series.

Driver Kevin Switzer Jr. was reunited with Maine’s 2023 sophomore pacing champion Luke McGook, with the pair easily capturing Saturday’s (Nov. 18) featured $5,000 conditioned pace at First Tracks Cumberland.

With racing in full swing at First Tracks Cumberland one of Maine’s top trotters, Broadway Giant, will be looking for his second win a row

Plainridge invader Skyway Victor was a confident 1:54.2 winner in Cumberland’s featured closing day event, the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational Pace, on Saturday, Aug. 5 posting one of the swiftest miles of the 33-day meet.

Two full fields of eight three-year-old pacers highlight the first round of Maine Sire Stakes action at Bangor on Wednesday (June 14), which marks the start of the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase. 

For driver Aaron Hall, the Friday (April 28) program at Cumberland must have seemed a lot like a roller coaster ride from start to finish.

Nick Graffam continued his quest to reach the 1,000 win plateau on Saturday, April 22 at Cumberland, winning the featured $7,500 Spring Fling Late Closer #2 elimination with The Bird Dance N in grand fashion.