Big Bang in Bangor !
Bangor Raceway LogoBangor Raceway is part of the only racino complex in Maine, this is a unique situation as the track and casino are not on the same campus, the casino is located a few blocks away. Bangor Raceway features an open air grandstand that can seat 3,750 patrons, with a small clubhouse that accommodates another 100. There is parking for over 3,000 vehicles.
Bangor Raceway is a one half mile harness track which conducts racing at historic Bass Park which has been in continuous operation since 1893.
It is the first racino in Maine and is part the Penn National Gaming Family.
In 2011 Bangor ran a split meet with racing from May to July and September to November leaving the middle piece for the Maine Fair Circuit. Bangor races primarily as a bridge track with late afternoon racing on Monday, Tuesday and Friday.
I keep procrastinating about making it to Bangor for a day of racing, but it just is not on the way to anywhere. I probably will regret never have made the effort when it just becomes a casino.
In 2016, I finally made it to old Bass Park for an afternoon of racing. It was a Monday card and the handful of us bettors couldn't come close bet as much as the casino money the horses were running for. The track itself looks more like a fair track with a half mile track and a small wooden grandstand built in 1950. Inside the grandstand there were three tellers, one which sold programs, a few automated tote machines and a bank of simulcast terminals and that's about it.
In the infield there is a small tote board with odds and prices, no mutual information, next to it is the old Bass Park Arbor leading into a grass infield with nothing there. I did go to the casino which is roughly across the street from the park, there wasn't much going on there either. All an all it was a fun afternoon of harness racing.