Maine and New Brunswick Circuit
Racing Locations — Race Secretaries
The Trotter and Pacer (Annual Blue Book 1923)
The beginning of the age when the horse was king may have been in the era when Lady Suffolk broke the 2:30 minute mile. This was during the time period when premiere race horses were featured on the front covers of periodicals like The Spirit of the Times. In Maine horses were often featured on the front page of The Maine Farmer published in Augusta, and The Turf, Farm and Home published originally in Auburn, and then in Waterville. The horse was a popular topic of conversation about town all over Maine.
In 1925 towards the end of John R Braden’s career, an Australian newspaper stated that automobiles finally outnumbered horses in the United States. This statement alone sadly embracing the end of an era — The Age When the Horse was King! In the 19th century, the horse replaced the oxen and now in the first half of the 20th century the automobile replaced the horse. As fascination and interest with the horse diminished, the trotting parks racing in 1923 gradually disappeared. In 1923 there was approximately 44 active trotting parks. In 2017, almost 100 years later there are nine active parimutuel, three tracks with demonstration racing, and two private tracks totally fourteen tracks. Today’s track locations include Presque Isle, Topsham, Skowhegan, Union, Windsor, Farmington, Oxford (not racing in 2017), Cumberland, Fryeburg, Scarborough, Bangor, Cornish, Blue Hill and Pembroke.
John R Braden with Willard up
The Maine and New Brunswick Circuit 1923
Race Secretaries & Dates are included for further research by Individuals or Historical Societies
Race Location Race Secretary Date
Houlton Lee Ervin July 4, 5
Caribou N.A. Currier July 5
Woodstock, NB R.C. Tait July 12
Fredericton, NB G.E. Howie July 18
Presque Isle J. Frank Hayes August 8
Caribou N.A. Currier August 22
Houlton E.B. Leighton August 28
Presque Isle R.J. Smith September 4
Woodstock, NB R.C. Tait September 11
Fredericton, NB G.E. Howie September 18, 19, 20
Skowhegan Not Listed June 27, July 4
Waterville Not Listed July 4
Belfast Not Listed July 4
Norridgewock Not Listed June 28
Lincoln Not Listed July 4
Rangeley Not Listed June 18
Monroe Not Listed June 23
Pittsfield Not Listed June 30
Portland Not Listed July 21
Bridgeton Not Listed August 7, 8
Waterville Col. W.G. Morrill August 3, 4
Belfast Not Listed August 4
Anson Not Listed July 31
Cornish L. M. Ayer August 14, 15, 18
Belfast H.C. Buzzell August 14, 15, 16
South Paris Not Listed August 2
Pittsfield Col. W.G. Morrill August 15, 16, 17, 18
Danforth Not Listed August 16, 17
Portland Not Listed August 21, 22
Livermore Falls Charles D. Dyke August 21, 22, 23
Unity J.H. Farrell September 4, 5
West Kennebunk Not Listed September 3, 4, 5
Blue Hill H.A. Saunders September 4, 5, 6
Springfield L.R. Averill September 4, 5, 6
Livermore Not Listed September 3
Hartland H.H. Corston September 7, 8
Farmington G.M. Hatch September 18, 19, 20
Exeter E.E. Colbath September 18, 19, 20
Gardiner C.G. Brown September 18, 20
Anson J.F. Withee September 3, 4
Monroe A.W. Curtis September 11, 12, 13
Canton J.F. Withee August 29, 30
Readfield E.E. Peacock September 25, 26, 27
Bangor Joseph Steward September 26
Montville Not Listed September 18, 19
Union H.L. Grinnell September 26, 28
Fort Kent Dr. J.W. Baker August 18
Norridgewock Not Listed September 22
New Gloucester A.M. Thurlow October 3, 4
Skowhegan Fred W. Weston October 6
Cherryfield W.G. Means, Jr. September 18, 19, 20
Fryeburg B. Walker McKeen October 2, 3, 4
South Windsor A.N. Douglass September 3, 4
Topsham C.G. Brown October 9, 10, 11
Lewiston J.S. Butler October 12
Damariscotta J.A. Perkins October 2, 3, 4
Acton G.T. Crediford October 3, 4
Bingham Not Listed October 3, 4
