The first Saturday in May and the world's attention will rightly focus on Louisville, as the latest crop of top rated Thoroughbreds vie for immortality and Kentucky Derby glory.

New England horse racing fans will join in the celebration, too, with the expected overflow crowd at Scarborough Downs anxious to keep tabs on the happenings at Churchill Downs while packing the stands at the venerable southern Maine harness racing facility.

This season though, with the horror of the Boston Marathon bombings still fresh in our collective minds, the attention at Scarborough will also focus on Boston.

The Maine Amateur Driving Club, an altruistic group of harness enthusiasts, have spearheaded this weekend's effort to raise money in support of The One Fund-Boston by agreeing to donate their driver's commission from three MADC races on the Derby Day card at Scarborough.

Following their lead, the rest of the harness racing industry have quickly joined in with Scarborough Downs, The Race-ME PAC, the Maine Harness Horsemen's Association, the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and the New England Harness Writers Association all agreeing to contribute toward the effort. Donations from the wagering public will also be solicited throughout the day.

"We always get our biggest crowd of the year on Kentucky Derby Day so we anticipate being able to raise a substantial amount to benefit this charity," said Scarborough spokeswoman Susan Higgins. "We already have commitments totaling $1,700 from the harness racing industry and we're hoping to at least double that with contributions from the public. We just can't thank the amateur drivers enough for coming up with this concept. They're a great group!"

The MADC is comprised of both aspiring young drivers and veteran teamsters. While they are not the everyday stars of the sport, they are all accomplished horsemen and women who enjoy coming together for weekly competition. Prohibited from accepting monetary consideration in order to maintain their amateur status, the five percent commission normally paid to drivers is held in account for charitable purposes.

"With the tragic events in Boston, I was thinking it would be a good idea to make a donation to one of the relief funds to help the victims and families," said MADC President, Buddy Burke, "but the way this has quickly gained momentum throughout the harness racing industry is amazing. Our racers stand in unity with Boston's racers. We're just glad that in some small way we could help."

Scarborough's gates will swing open at 10 a.m. (EDT) with windows available to accept wagers on full simulcast of the Churchill Downs card. Live harness racing at Scarborough Downs begins at 2 p.m. with 13 races featured on the afternoon program. The day will culminate with the simulcast of the Kentucky Derby at 6 p.m.