Lawnmower races at Boles Farm Track and Governor—s Cup sailboat race set for this weekend

A speaker at the meeting announced a two-day lawnmower-racing fundraiser at Boles Farm Track on Friday and Saturday to benefit the Seventh District Rescue Squad and the Optimist Club, and the long-running Governor—s Cup 24-hour sailboat race that will bring dozens of vessels into the St. Mary—s River.

Speaker 1, an unidentified speaker, said the lawnmower races are held on a hard-clay surface at Boles Farm Track and are known beyond the county. "If you have never seen such a thing, you need to go," the speaker said, urging attendance for what was described as an entertaining activity and a fundraiser for local organizations.

The speaker also described the Governor—s Cup as a 24-hour race with a major contingent from Annapolis and a southern group from Virginia. The speaker said about 60 boats were registered at the time of the meeting, though the event typically draws closer to 100. "You—ll be surprised what you see," the speaker said of the event.

Race-day operations described in the meeting include the speaker—s role on a vessel called the Dove to identify boats and record finish times near a landmark called Priest Point, opposite St. Mary—s City. The speaker said many boats arrive between about 3:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., and volunteer committees take four-hour watches beginning around 10 p.m. and continuing through about noon the following day. The speaker warned that poor winds can push arrivals later.

Why it matters: the lawnmower event is a community fundraiser supporting local emergency services and youth programming, and the Governor—s Cup brings volunteers and shoreline activity to St. Mary—s County during an overnight period when organizers staff watches and record finish times. The speaker said some shoreline activities are planned but did not specify exact locations.

Details from the meeting: the speaker described the Boles Farm Track surface as a hard clay type preferred for racing; the lawnmower races run two days (Friday and Saturday); roughly 60 Governor—s Cup boats were registered at the time of the announcement (the speaker said the event usually nears 100); boat arrivals concentrate in the early morning hours; volunteer watches run in four-hour shifts from about 10 p.m. through noon the next day.

No formal action or permit decisions were announced during the remarks. The speaker encouraged attendance at both events and noted the multi-decade history of the Governor—s Cup in St. Mary—s County.