Racebook | A brief history of Scarborough Downs
This timeline was published alongside the story, "Against the odds," in the March 9, 2009, issue of Mainebiz. Read the story >>
July 1950 Businessmen Robert Verrier and Fred Snow open Scarborough Downs. The owners built the track and clubhouse in 75 days, on land they bought from Scarborough for $600. Scarborough Downs conducts thoroughbred racing exclusively.
1951 Gorham Raceway President Joseph Cianchette and Verrier go to court over competing race dates at harness racetrack Gorham Raceway and Scarborough Downs. The court rules that thoroughbred races and harness races can’t be run at the same time.
1959 Scarborough Downs enjoys the height of its popularity, with betting over $65 million this year, adjusted for inflation, and attendance just under 260,000 people
1968 Its bottom line bruised by competition from harness racing, Scarborough Downs is sold to West Virginia sportsman James Edwards for around $1 million
1969 Scarborough Downs is sold to Ogden Corp. of New York and begins offering harness racing as well as thoroughbred racing
1973 The half-mile oval track is built, Scarborough Downs switches to harness racing exclusively
1975 Scarborough Downs again struggles to turn a profit and appears headed for bankruptcy; Ogden puts the track up for sale
1979 33-year-old businessman Joseph Ricci buys Scarborough Downs for $990,000. Ricci is unable to make the track profitable under his ownership.
2001 Joseph Ricci dies. His widow, Sharon Terry, assumes ownership of the track. Under Terry’s management, the track carves out a profit of $150K-$200K annually.
2003 Scarborough voters reject a referendum that would have allowed slot machines at the Downs
2008 Scarborough Downs again fails to convince the town to approve slot machines at the track
2009 Scarborough Downs meets with officials from southern and central Maine towns about moving the track to a town more receptive to slot machines
Sara Donnelly
Return to the story, "Against the odds" >>
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