Harness racing at the 152nd annual Cumberland Fair kicked off on Sunday, Sept. 22 with former Maine Sire Stakes champion Wolverina bringing all the Graffam connections together once again to pay homage to one of their own.

The five-year-old daughter of Cheyenne Hollywood left swiftly from post five to gain command of the field in the $7,027 pace designated the Lori Graffam Memorial, with driver Nick Graffam coasting through fractions of :28.4 and :59.4 to the first half. Wolverina continued to pave the way while the ‘four-in, four-out’ outer flow attempted to get closer to the lead. Into the 1:29 third panel, the challengers were all stacked up on the outer rim, but to no avail, as the mare was large and in charge. Graffam and his talented distaff kept the aggressors at bay as the pair rolled down victory lane of her home track in 1:58.4, prevailing by 1-1/4 lengths. Humor Me (Aaron Hall) finished second and Cash Crazy Express (Drew Campbell) was third.

Bred and co-owned by trainer Mike Graffam, with co-owner Bill Arnold, Wolverina earned her 22nd lifetime victory. A two-time Maine Sire Stakes champion at both two and three years old, the mare now has $343,316 in lifetime earnings. She paid $4.20 to win.

In the winner’s circle, family and friends honoured the late Lori Graffam, mother of driver Nick Graffam and caretaker Bethany Graffam. 

Golden Tree (2:00, $3.20) and Kevin Switzer Jr. took the opener, dubbed the Living Legend Donald Richards Pace, where the 91-year-old trainer/driver was feted by his many admirers. 

While the overnight races were all legs of the track’s popular Pop-Up Series, carrying purses up to $7,027 each, the finals on Saturday, Sept. 28 will have equally lofty prizes of up to $10,000 USD each.

The spring-summer meet’s leading reinsman, Kevin Switzer, had three wins on the 11-race program.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)