I’m writing to express my support for Question 2 on the Nov. 8 ballot.
New harness race tracks in Biddeford and Calais will be good, not only for those communities, but also for Maine’s horse industry and the hundreds of families who depend on it.
About 1999, a good friend suggested that I might like to be involved in the harness racing industry. I jumped in as an owner, and it has been a fun ride ever since.
I got my standardbred training and driving licenses, and just last year I drove for the first time at the agricultural fairs. This year, I got my first win at Skowhegan in the amateur class, and I plan to drive next year at Bangor and Scarborough.
Gary Mosher and I own the Sidney Training Center, where several trainers and owners work with about 50 horses in three barns. We work with some great people who put in long hours because they love the horses and they love their work.
Question 2 will help protect those jobs. The addition of Hollywood Slots in Bangor has increased harness racing purses substantially, and racinos in Biddeford and Washington County will boost them quite a bit. Plus, a 5/8 mile track at Biddeford is going to be better for the horses. The idea of an entertainment complex for Biddeford is a tremendous opportunity. I hope everyone will vote yes on Question 2.
Michael Cayouette
Vassalboro
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