Leading reinsman Kevin Switzer Jr. put on a driving clinic on opening day of the Winter Festival at Cumberland Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 2, winning seven of his nine drives on the 10-race card.

Switzer Jr. wasted little time finding the Blue Seal winner’s circle at the iconic Southern Maine oval, sending even-money favourite Eager Beaver to a 2:02 maiden-breaking victory in the opener. Trained by Billy DuBois and owned by Sara Fernald, the three-year-old son of Bettors Delight returned $4.20 to win.

The Maine native, third-generation horseman came right back in the second race to sweep the Daily Double, winning with trotter Foxy Trottin Stick in 2:01.2 for owner/trainer Jamie Gerard.  The nine-year-old son of Big Stick Lindy paid $3 to win..

In the fourth race, the 38-year-old teamster went down the road with Smokin By N in 1:56, paying $4.40 to win. An 11-year-old son of Mach Three is trained and owned by Scott Vickerson.

Switzer worked out another wire-to-wire route with GA Speed Matrix in the fifth race. The five-year-old Windfall Blue Chip mare won in 2:00.1 for trainer Christopher Dubois and owner Sylvie Godin. A $2 win wager paid $3.80.

Kreacher won the seventh race $7,042 feature by a neck in 1:57.4 for the red-hot reinsman. Trained and owned by Nancy Stewart, the 10-year-old son of Pet Rock returned a handsome $19.60 to win. 

Switzer won the next two races with trainer Benson Merrill's Ten Beaches Later, a 10-year-old Net Ten Eom gelding, scoring in 2:00.3 and paying $2.20 to win and the Dubois-trained 12-year-old Gotta Minute N, a son of Badlands Hanover, winning in 1:57.1 for owner Ettore Annunziata Rev Tr, returning $3.80 at the betting windows.

While winning seven on one harness racing program may seem like a magical accomplishment, this is not the first time that Switzer has accomplished this lofty feat. According to New England harness racing historian and Bangor track announcer Mike Sweeney, the top driver has completed the task on three previous occasions at Scarborough Downs and at the Skowhegan State Fair in 2014, and again at Skowhegan this year. 

It’s no surprise that Switzer Jr. is having another career year, having eclipsed his previous earnings threshold of $3.35 million in 2024. This year, he's driven horses to $3.7 million in purse earnings and has recorded 308 victories with plenty of racing still to be contested. Overall, Switzer has driven winners of $22.2 million in purses over his 20-plus year career with 3,818 wins since he began driving in 2003.

Dubois completed a training hat trick and sweep of the late Daily Double with Time For George scoring in 1:58 in rein to Nick Graffam for owner Mary Fernald. The eight-year-old Well Said gelding returned $22 for the upset win.

Todd Whitney took the Maine Amateur Driving Club race with the Michelle Lefebvre-trained pacer Keystone Maxim in 1:59.1, returning $2.40.

For the fifth season in a row, First Tracks Cumberland will present the Au Revoir Retirement Showcase, slated for Saturday, Dec. 20. The event is open to 14-year-old horses that are racing, or have recently retired, and have Maine connections. Horses will parade in front of the fans in either harness or halter and be featured in a half-page bio with their photograph in the special commemorative program. Equine honourees must be present to participate and need to ‘declare’ by Dec. 3. To enter your horse, or for more information, send an email of interest to Chris Tully at [email protected].

Racing resumes at First Tracks Cumberland on Saturday, Nov. 8 with post time at 10:55 a.m.  The Winter Festival extended pari-mutuel meeting continues with weekend action (Saturdays, Sundays) throughout the month of November. Cumberland Raceway will transition to three days of harness racing each week (Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays), beginning Dec. 5. The 18-day meet continues through Dec. 21, 2025.

(With files from First Tracks Cumberland)