Racing resumes at the iconic Cumberland Raceway on Wednesday (Nov. 3) for the first of 29 Southern Maine racing dates dubbed the “Winter Festival.”

Racing Secretary Marc Reynolds was quite pleased with the full entry box and has carded 10 races of full fields that are set to begin with an earlier 11 a.m. post time.

“The horsemen and women are eager to get back racing as the Maine Fair circuit ended last month, and everyone is excited to return back home to Cumberland,” noted Reynolds.

The $4,500 co-features mark the return of many of Maine’s harness racing families as their familiar faces fill the pages of programs and overnight sheets. The opener pits the Craig Hall-trained and Aaron Hall-driven Mr Blissful (post two, 5-2) against the Mike Graffam-trained and Nick Graffam-driven Cyclone Pass (post one, 3-1). Both horses have won in excess of $15,000 this season and look to add to that bankroll in the conditioned pace. Of course, anytime top reinsman Bruce Ranger is in the mix, punters take note. The leading New England driver leaves from post five with Bolt Ruler (4-1), who took his seasonal 1:57 mark at the Cumberland Fair in September for trainer Eric Bickmore.

The fourth race, second $4,500 split, has Bali (post four, 5-2) looking for his third victory in a row. Now driven by Bruce Ranger for trainer Benson Merrill, the 10-year-old son of Dali has been dropped in for a tag to fit the condition. Another son of Dali looking for his piece of the pie is Daliocity (post five, 4-1). Driven by Andrew Harrington for trainer Sara Gibbs, Daliocity took his 1:56 seasonal mark at Cumberland during the spring/summer meet and has six wins and $24,616 earned this year. Sanattle Slew (post one, 4-1, Deslandes) and Captain Nash (post six, 3-1, D. Campbell) make this a competitive race worthy of further study.

Overall, the entire card has a lot of action for horseplayers as the $3,000 guaranteed Pick 5 starts with the first race, and every event has either full seven or eight-horse fields. In fact, 45 different conditioners have entered horses for opening day, making this a homecoming week like no other. Free past performances will be available on the USTA’s Strategic Wagering page.

Fans can visit the Trackside Pub on Saturday, Nov. 6 to benefit ‘Futures for Standardbreds.’ Round up, donations and raffles will take place during the races with giveaways throughout the event.

Racing continues at First Tracks Cumberland for the Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting featuring back-to-back cards on Tuesday, Nov. 9 and Wednesday, Nov. 10, and continues weekly through December 31, 2021.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)