Prior to Sunday’s (December 21) card, the dynamic duo had been maintaining the track for the past 48 hours straight, responding to rain, freezing temperatures and high winds while wreaking havoc on the rock dust and horse people of southern Maine.
As expected, the track lost power on Friday (December 19) during a storm that brought an inch of rain combined with wind gusts of up to 90 kilometers per hour. As electrical crews and linemen worked feverishly overnight to restore electricity, Kilton and Bilodeau went to work “freezing dry” the racing surface so that the track’s 17th winter card and Au Revoir retirement ceremonies could be held on Saturday (December 20).
“We knew it was going to be a long night,” said Kilton, who has driven large trucks and heavy equipment all his life. The Portland-born 56-year-old was the track man at Scarborough before that facility closed, moving to Cumberland in 2022.
“Ultimately, we can’t start working on the track until, first, it stops raining and, second, the track starts to freeze,” Kilton added.
“The conditioner is our best device with which we forget the track is ready for racing,” he continued. “We like to keep a cushion on the surface as best as possible, so that the horses can escape the tougher conditions on the fair circuit.”
Speaking of fairs, Michael Bilodeau grew up at the Rochester (Maine) Fair and has been riding track implements since he was “2 years old,” noted the lifelong New England resident.
The 35-year-old said: “As I got older I went to the Oxford Fair, then Pompano, then Scarborough Downs and started here when Cumberland opened in 2021.”
Bilodeau learned from his experience in South Florida to add more rock dust to the track after a rain shower to soak up the water. But he also credits Kim Crawford of New York for giving him timely advice when he needed it.
First Tracks General Manager Ben Kenney nicknamed him “Pompano Mike” when he first came on board, and the name has stuck.
“Bruce and Mike are invaluable to the day-to-day operations of our track,” said Kenney.
“They battle all types of weather conditions and the chaos it leaves on the track surface. One of the best qualities of the team is that they both approach situations in different ways. By doing this they are very effective,” Kenney added.
“But most of all, we appreciate that no matter the situation, they have a great attitude and a good sense of humor… which is always necessary when you’re a track guy in Maine.”
The evidence of all the hard work and dedication to the track surface was on full display on Sunday (December 21) as several series finales took place in Cumberland. The final of the $12,500 Blitzen Pop-Up Series went to Hespoisedtopounce A in a wire-to-wire romp for driver Aaron Hall.
Switching the timer to 1:59 for trainer Jimmy Nickerson and owners Tim Bojarski and Tony Gruppo, the 9-year-old son of Gambler’s delight returned $3.40 to its donors.
He wanted to TRACE A CUMBERLAND REPEAT
The $10,000 Comet series finale was captured by Cigars And Port in 1:57.4 for driver Wally Watson, who co-owns Fox Ridge Stable. So Surrealis’ 8-year-old son trained with Lisa Watson and paid $9.60.
Jones Hanover won the $10,000 Dasher final in 1:59.3 in wire-to-wire mode ahead of driver Kevin Switzer Jr. Owned and trained by Zach Vickerson, the 4-year-old son of Huntsville $3.40 returned.
Todd Whitney won the $7,500 Maine Amateur Driving Club final with Legal Bettor in 1:58.3. The Lefebvre owned and trained pacer scored 6-1/2 lengths on the 10-year-old son of Bettor’s Delight for $2.20.
Driver Aaron Hall grabbed a natural hat trick and leading reins man Kevin Switzer Jr. picked up three of his own, and was recognized for topping the leaderboard (116 wins and counting) in Cumberland for the 2025 calendar year.
For more information visit our website: firsttrackscumberland.com/
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For full race results, click here: American trotting results
Through Chris Tullyfor First Tracks Cumberland
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