Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association

06/18/2026

We are still looking for a few businesses to join our 3 year old promotion program. Please let us know if your business is interested.

06/18/2026

Rebel’s Revenge slays the dragon

June 18, 2026 -- by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

BANGOR, ME – When the wings of the starting gate folded in one of two $15,000-plus divisions for 3-year-old c**t pacers on Wednesday (June 17) at Bangor Raceway, it looked like it was going to be another 1-9 shot going wire-to-wire. However, that scenario changed dramatically in deep stretch as 9-1 longshot Rebel’s Revenge handed the previously unbeaten Real Horrorshow his first lifetime defeat.

The betting public recognized that Real Horrorshow, last year’s undisputed Maine 2-year-old pacing c**t champion, was the top choice considering he was unbeaten as a freshman and was coming off a strong 1:54.4 qualifier at Plainridge for trainer Kevin Switzer Sr. Not only did the son of Dude’s The Man win all nine of his races at two, including the lucrative $85,000 final, but he did so convincingly by winning most outings by open lengths.

When his regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. put the c**t into motion—on the front end—it appeared that the duo would have everything their own way.

Switzer Jr. set reasonable opening fractions of :29 and 59.4 and continued to maintain a two-length advantage over the pocket sitting Rebel’s Revenge and Aaron Hall. Down the backside and into the 1:29.1 third panel Dave Ingraham had Dude’s The Jet (32-1) rolling first over and for a brief spell was right alongside Rebel’s Revenge.

Around the final turn Dude’s The Jet stalled, which allowed Rebel’s Revenge to find room to ease out and continue his momentum.

But when Hall started to gain ground on the leader, a gasp filled the air.

“Real Horrorshow appeared to have everything to his liking, as expected, and when Rebel’s Revenge pulled the pocket it looked like a typical mere perfunctory late challenge,” noted track announcer Mike Sweeney after the race. “There was little warning that the complexion of this race would change so dramatically and so quickly.”

And change it did as the Marc Tardif-trained son of Deuce Seelster, who looked a little headstrong down the backstretch, decided that he had had enough following for the day and proceeded to take command under the shadow of the wire, winning by half a length in 1:58.4.

While trainer Marc Tardif humbly stated that his c**t “raced good,” the Leighton Property-owned sophomore not only took a new lifetime mark, but also may have altered the flavor of the upcoming season.

While Mike Sweeney called it the “upset of the year” during his exciting stretch call, the five-year Bangor track announcer has witnessed his fair share of Maine Sire Stakes events, and opined, “perhaps the outlook for this entire division has now tilted.”

Rebel’s Revenge returned $20.40, with no show wagering on the race.

In the earlier $15,609 division for sophomore pacing c**ts and geldings the 1-2 heavy favorite Daytoremember with Heath Campbell in the bike made quick work of this field from post five.

Rolling through comfortable initial fractions of :29 and 1:00.1, Campbell picked up the tempo and hit them with a 1:28.3 third panel to draw off by three and score in a new lifetime best of 1:57.3.

Owned and trained by Valerie Grondin the son of Dude’s The Man returned $3.00 for his first start of the season.

Itsjustmoney (9-2, Switzer Jr.) finished second; Mia’s Boy (10-1, Mark Athearn) was third.

This ‘glamour boys’ leg was the first $15,000-plus rounds of Maine Sire Stakes action for this division, which starts the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase. This group shall meet again at Cumberland on June 27.

Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland hosts the 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (June 21), with the 3-year-old pacing fillies back at Bangor on Wednesday (June 24).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook , or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com

06/17/2026

Our deepest condolences go out to all those who have connections to horses lost in the fire at Saratoga. We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.

For anyone wanting to donate here is the official gofundme:

In the very early morning hours of June 16th, a fire started in one of the… Jessica Hallett needs your support for Support Saratoga Horsemen After Tragic Fire

06/17/2026

Unbeaten Real Horrorshow makes debut Wednesday

June 16, 2026 -- by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo)

BANGOR, ME – Just like in the filly division of the Maine Sire Stakes, there is an undefeated c**t named Real Horrorshow who makes his seasonal bow in one of two $15,000-plus divisions for 3-year-old c**t pacers on Wednesday (June 17) at Bangor Raceway.

Real Horrorshow, last year’s undisputed Maine 2-year-old pacing c**t champion steps into his first seasonal stakes competition off a blistering 1:54.4 qualifier at Plainridge for trainer Kevin Switzer Sr. The son of Dude’s The Man won all nine of his races at two, including the lucrative $85,000 final.

Regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. gets the call for the 3-5 heavy favorite from pylon position, which is just where the precocious gelding likes it—on the front end.

His $99,089 in 2025 earnings for owners KDK Standardbreds, Kathleen Mofield and Anthony Sivik Jr. are evidence of the handsome sum available in the Pine Tree State-bred program, as well as the talent of this c**t. Bred in Maine by Luke and Patricia Varnum, this horse looked like the real thing when he won the freshmen final by open lengths.

Of course the powerful ‘Tardif Taskforce’ has three entrants in the same division as the ‘unblemished one,’ which is carded as race seven. The 9-5 second choice is Rebel’s Revenge (Aaron Hall) from post four, along with Dude’s The Jet (6-1, Walter Case Jr.) from post three.

In the earlier $15,609 division for sophomore pacing c**ts and geldings the 8-5 favorite is Daytoremember with Heath Campbell from post five. Owned and trained by Valerie Grondin the son of Dude’s The Man was nine times 1-2-3 in 11 seasonal outings.

From the pegs is second choice Itsjustmoney (7-2, Switzer Jr.) who is one of three in that division that hail from the Marc Tardif stable.

First post at Bangor on Wednesday (June 17) is 3:00 pm.

This ‘glamour boys’ leg is the first $15,000-plus rounds of Maine Sire Stakes action for this division, which starts of the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase.

Looking ahead, First Tracks Cumberland hosts the 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (June 21), with the 3-yar-old pacing fillies back at Bangor on Wednesday (June 24).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook , or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com

06/14/2026

***Schoolers Tuesday at 12:00 First Tracks Cumberland***

06/14/2026

Snowonthepines continues her dominance

June 14, 2026 -- by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photos)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Snowonthepines, the sensational 3-year-old Maine-bred pacing filly has continued her tour de force by crushing her opponents in her first race of the year on Saturday (June 13) at Cumberland Raceway.

Winning all nine of her races at two, including the lucrative $85,000 final, the daughter of Dude’s The Man was last year’s undisputed Maine 2-year-old pacing filly champion. Now, it appears that the Marc Tardif-trained sophomore distaff will be just as dangerous to her competition this year.

Regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. drove the prohibitive 1-9 favorite from post five, in the $15,209 opening day of the Maine Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

As expected, when the wings folded Snowonthepines was sent out for an early lead and hit the first panel in :29.4. She continued to set the tempo into a 1:00.4 half and with just Ekorus (4-1, Nick Graffam) tipping to the outside through a 1:30.1 third stanza.

But it was already too late for the chasers as the filly had six lengths on the field at the head of the stretch and increased that advantage to nine when Snowonthepines tripped the timer under the wire in 1:59.

Owned and bred by Leighton Property, the unbeaten lass paid just $2.20.

Ekorus finished second; Perfectly Lovely (Aaron Hall) who sat in the pocket throughout the entire mile, hung on for third.

Perhaps setting the stage for his ‘big filly,’ trainer Marc Tardif also won the first $15,209 division with Dudelookslikeafily in gate to wire fashion.

Driver Aaron Hall sent the daughter of Dude’s The Man right to the top and never looked back as the filly picked up her first stakes victory and a new lifetime mark of 1:59.3.

Owned by Leighton Property and Victoria Leighton, she was bred by Stephanie Gray and returned $5.20.

Graceofspades (2-1, Dave Ingraham) finished second; Race Me Ireland (Andy Harrington) was third.

The Pine Tree State-bred action marks the first $15,000-plus round of the Maine Sire Stakes program, which is the start of the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase.

Looking ahead, Wednesday’s (June 17) Bangor program hosts the 3-year-old c**t pacers, followed by the 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (June 21).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook , or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com

06/12/2026

Maine Sire Stakes opens at Cumberland Saturday

June 12, 2026 -- by Chris Tully, for the Maine Sire Stakes
(Joe Shaw photo)

CUMBERLAND, ME – Undefeated phenom Snowonthepines leads two fields of 3-year-old filly pacers as stakes season gets underway on Saturday (June 13) at Cumberland Raceway.

The much-anticipated event marks the first $15,000-plus rounds of Maine Sire Stakes action, which is the start of the 18-week season of New England’s premier harness racing showcase.

With up to ten legs for each division throughout the summer and autumn months, the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes program has been promoting and providing a venue for Pine Tree State Standardbreds since the legislative establishment of the series in 1972.

While the program has evolved over the last fifty years…so has the speed and durability of the Maine-bred harness horse. While it is not uncommon to see horses by Maine sires competing throughout North America, New England drivers and trainers are also making a name for themselves on the National stage. In fact, Maine-native Jason Bartlett was voted the U.S. Harness Writer’s Dan Patch Driver of the Year in 2025.

Snowonthepines, last year’s undisputed Maine 2-year-old pacing filly champion steps into her first seasonal stakes competition off a pair of qualifiers for trainer Marc Tardif and owner-breeder Leighton Property. The daughter of Dude’s The Man won all nine of her races at two, including the lucrative $85,000 final.

Regular driver Kevin Switzer Jr. gets the call for the 9-5 favorite from post five, as the dominant distaff appears to be just as comfortable off a helmet as on the front end. Her $99,000 in 2025 earnings are a testament to the rich funds available in the Pine Tree State-bred program, as well as the talent of this filly.

Her primary threat comes from the pylon positioned Ekorus (2-1, Nick Graffam) who is the home-bred property of trainer Mike Graffam with Martha Holden as partner. The daughter of Cheyenne Hollywood was eight times 1-2-3 in 10 seasonal outings at two, earning $53,642. This $15,209 Maine Sire Stakes division is carded as race seven on the 12-race Cumberland card.

Each racing season the powerful ‘Tardif Taskforce’ enters the Maine Sire Stakes loaded with talent, and once again this year is no exception. They also have the favorite 3-year-old pacing filly in the earlier, $15,209 first division, named Dudelookslikeafily (2-1, Aaron Hall, post 5). Owned by Leighton Property and Victoria Leighton the daughter of Dude’s The Man won her last start at Bangor in an overnight race and was bred by horsewoman and photographer Stephanie Gray.

The co-second choice in race four is the Graceofspaces (5-2, Dave Ingraham, post 1) who is a Western Maverick full sister to former Maine champion Gowestyounggrace. Owned, bred and trained by Fred Ward Jr. and Sharon Ward, the younger ‘Grace’ is seeking her first trip to the winners circle.

Scoring from post four is Heymickeyyousofine (Heath Campbell), the other 5-2 pick in that division. A true family affair, the daughter of Dude’s The Man was bred by Kimberly Vafiades, is trained by Steven Vafiades, and is owned by Jason Vafiades. She earned just under $20,000 last year and was a consistent earner with checks in nearly all nine of her contests.

First post at Cumberland on Saturday (June 13) is 12:15 pm.

Looking ahead, Wednesday’s (June 17) Bangor program hosts the 3-year-old c**t pacers, followed by the 3-year-old trotters on Sunday (June 21).

For more information about the Maine Standardbred Breeders Stakes, follow them on Facebook , or go to their website: MaineSireStakes.com

06/11/2026

06/08/2026

🐎🐎Schoolers at First Tracks Cumberland 8:30 Wednesday morning 🐎🐎

06/02/2026

2 year old qualifiers will be held at both tracks as follows:

First Tracks Cumberland
Every Sunday the month of June 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th

Bangor Raceway the last 3 Wednesdays in June, the 10th, 17th & 24th.