Scarborough Downs
Scarborough Downs Race Track was a horse-racing track located in Scarborough, Maine, United States. It was Maine's largest race track. It was home to The Downs Club restaurant as well as a grandstand for race viewing, and includes 2 track-side lounges as well as a VIP Room.[1] It held its final races on November 30, 2020.[2]
Scarborough Downs was constructed in 1949 as a racetrack for thoroughbred horse races and was completed in 1950.[3] It was the only one of its kind in the state.[4] Harness racing was introduced in the 1960s and for a while the track hosted both types of horse racing. However, in September 1972 the track became solely a harness racing track.[5] In the 2000s, owner Joseph Ricci, also known for being one of the founders of the infamous Élan School,[6] introduced simulcast wagering and the track began to offer simulcast races from premier thoroughbred and harness tracks from around North America.
On October 1, 1980, a pre-dawn fire at Scarborough Downs, ignited as the result of an overloaded electrical box in a tack room, destroyed a 240-foot barn, killing eleven horses.[7] The track hosted its final race ever on November 28, 2020, due to an agreement with developer Mike Cianchette, great-nephew of former Bangor and Lewiston Track Owner Bud Cianchette.[8] The racing meet will move to Cumberland Fairgrounds which has held long meets before, with the expectation it will be full-time horse racing course by 2022. The 2021 season at Cumberland will be 64 days long total including 2021 fair First Tracks LLC got state approval and a license on February 8, 2021.
MaineHealth has been using the facility as a COVID-19 vaccine distribution site since February 2021.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Scarborough Downs official website
- ^ Warner, Pete (30 November 2020). "Scarborough Downs harness racing track shuts down after 70 years". Bangor Daily News.
- ^ Portland Press Herald - September 10, 2000
- ^ The Day (New London, Connecticut) - March 8, 1971
- ^ Boston Globe - November 16, 1989
- ^ Writer, DWIGHT F. BLINT; Courant Staff. "JOSEPH RICCI'S CAREER AND CONTROVERSY". courant.com. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ The Palm Beach Post - October 1, 1980
- ^ The Maine Attraction
- ^ Andrews, Caitlin (January 21, 2021). "Recently closed Scarborough Downs will house Maine's first large-scale vaccine clinic". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Scarborough Downs track photographers website
- Maine Harness Racing
- Biddeford Downs
- The Maine Attraction
43°35′59.52″N 70°21′7.44″W / 43.5998667°N 70.3520667°W
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