The 142nd season of racing at historic Bangor Raceway gets underway on Sunday, April 27 with a 10-race card kicking off the first of 39 live harness racing dates.
Racing is scheduled every Wednesday and Sunday through July 20, with the exception of May 14 and 18. An additional Thursday race date is scheduled for July 24 with the Bangor State Fair before breaking for the remainder of the fair season. Post times are set for 12:10 p.m. on Sundays and 3 p.m. on Wednesdays. The July 24 Bangor State Fair date is set for a 6 p.m. post time.
The 2025 season brings with it some new faces. Thomas Smith is the new racing manager at the track, and Karen Fagliarone is the new racing secretary. Fagliarone comes to Bangor from Freehold Raceway in New Jersey. She spent nearly 40 years working at Freehold and is one of only two female harness racing secretaries in the United States.
“Racing is in my blood and in my family,” said Fagliarone. “My husband [Mike Fagliarone] was a driver and trainer and I’ve been working as the racing secretary for about half of my time at Freehold. Bangor has a great track and a very rich history, and the Maine harness racing community is strong. I’m looking forward to getting this season underway.”
“We have a lot to build upon this year at Bangor Raceway,” said Smith, whose family has strong roots in Maine harness racing. “I am not new to this sport or this area, but I am very excited to take on this new position at the track. Last year [had] the highest daily betting figure in the track’s history, and with some of the upgrades we have made this year, I think this season has a lot of excitement in store.”
Races from Bangor Raceway will be seen in high definition for the first time. The television upgrade is the largest upgrade since simulcast wagering first came to Bangor Raceway. The production will be handled by American Teletimer, a New Jersey-based company which has been servicing the horse racing industry since the 1930s providing electronic timing, photo finish, TV production and fully integrated audio visual installations. The simulcast feed goes to other racetracks, casinos and off-track locations nationally and internationally.
For Hollywood Casino players in the PennPlay program, harness wagering will now be a part of the incentive program. For every wager made on a live or simulcast race at Bangor Raceway, fans can earn PennCash for use at the track and casino and be part of exclusive promotions for PennPlay members. PennPlay is free to sign up for those 21 years old and over.
This season will also include the Fred Nichols Memorial Stakes, named after the longtime harness racing enthusiast and Bangor Raceway employee who served several roles including racing secretary and general manager. The Fred Nichols Memorial Stakes is a $25,000 USD event and the date will be announced later in the season.
Simulcast wagering is available at the track, under the grandstand, open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 to 5 p.m. All races at Bangor Raceway will be simulcast throughout the country.
Admission to the grandstand is free. Race programs will be sold at the track for $2 USD each. For more information, visit hollywoodcasinobangor.com.
(Bangor Raceway)