scarborough downs

I just recently went to Scarborough Downs with my wife and sun right before the local fairs starting racing. While it is true that the facility is old and dated, we had a great time. A bright sunny day full of Maine State Bred Stakes races. A small crowd. Maybe 500 people on a beautiful sunny Maine day. Watching the races were fun. They race mainly weekends through December. Go out with the family for a few hours of fun.

It costs nothing to get in. Live harness racing on week-ends Inexpensive fast food, although I understand there is also a full service restaurant. We went on a Saturday night and racing started at 4:30 and was over by 8:00 PM Lots of benches by the track and an enclosed grandstand in case of bad weather, I love horses so we bet $ 2 per race and ended up losing a big$ 3 for the night after a few snacks and a few bets. It's fine for kids, because anyone getting an alcoholic beverage has to sit inside or out in a separate area. There were lots of kids running around.Something different to do at the beach and it helps keep an old tradition going.

great harness racing has a lovely dining room with views of the racing food is above average if you just want a burger/dog/beer there is a pub on the 1st floor wrap around windows plus you can bet on other tracks MANY TVS

I was new to the horse betting game on a trip to Old Orchard beach and decided at 67 years old I should at least take a look. I had never put a bet on a horse race in my life and was so excited to see the horses you could not imangine. The very first horse I bet on came in first place,It was an experience I will never forget. I actually won 4 of the 5 races I bet on just by the name of the horses,with the help of my wife Jayne, Thanks for reading.. my true story. Farmer Rich.

I have been going to Scarborough Downs for years and continue to watch it decay. The place was a great harness racing facility up to the end of the 1980's. Since then, not a dime has been spent on the place. Some of this is due to the city's refusal to allow this track to have slot machines. Most of it appears to be poor management.

Nothing beats a great meal and playing the ponies. The food & service is beyond compair--and if you're able to win a few quid--all the better!!!

Fun place to go for a few hours! Sad to see it somewhat empty. Minimum bets of $2 allow you to cheer for your picks without getting too stressed about not knowing what you're doing. 10 races at 2 bucks a race if you choose equals 20 bucks for 3 hours of entertainment. Unless you win, then they're paying you! Show this place some support!!!!

didn't have to take off my shoes to count the "crowd". Without people betting and cheering there wasn't much excitement

Back in the 1980s I frequented the Downs regularly, when facilities were still fairly good and crowds still came to watch horse racing on weekends. Sport has steadily been dying off for some time, the Downs looks no different than it did then, just older and outdated. Grandstands are not even open any longer, gross bathrooms and food areas. Ok....so it's a racetrack and if casino gambling is not approved soon it will be closed. We went for the horse racing but even that was a short card of 8 races....many races with 5 horses. Was dissatisfied.....if your looking for something to do it is worth a try, if nothing else you could picture yourself in a ghost town and what it was like in the hey day