Scarborough Downs

Scarborough Downs was a horse-racing track located in Scarborough, Maine, United States. It was Maine's largest race track. It was home to The Downs Club restaurant as well as a grandstand for race viewing, and includes 2 track-side lounges as well as a VIP Room.[1] It held its final races on November 30, 2020.[2]

Scarborough Downs was constructed in 1949 as a racetrack for thoroughbred horse races and was completed in 1950.[3] It was the only one of its kind in the state.[4] However, harness racing was introduced in the 1960s and for a while the track hosted both types of horse racing. However, in September 1972 the track became solely a harness racing track.[5] In the 2000s, owner Joseph Ricci introduced simulcast wagering and the track began to offer simulcast races from premier thoroughbred and harness tracks from around North America.

On October 1, 1980, a pre-dawn fire at Scarborough Downs, ignited as the result of an overloaded electrical box in a tack room, destroyed a 240-foot barn, killing eleven horses. [6] The track hosted its final race ever on November 28, 2020 due to an agreement with developer Mike Cianchette, grandson of former Bangor and Lewiston Track Owner Bud Cianchette. The racing meet will move to Cumberland Fairgrounds which has held long meets before with the expectation it will be full-time horse racing in 2022. The 2021 season at Cumberland will be 48 days long total including 2021 fair.