from Dresden Raceway

Dresden, ON — Trainer Mark Austin will be enshrined into the Dresden Raceway Hall of Fame Sunday (June 18) at Dresden Raceway.

Austin is a trainer who hailed from Chatham and got his start at Dresden Raceway in the early 1980’s training for owners such as Graham Chambers. In 1988 his reputation of being great with young horses caught up with him as he was asked to break a yearling trotter named A Worthy Lad for Joe Johnston. A Worthy Lad never lost a race in North America.

Austin then moved his stable closer to Windsor and worked with Jack Darling during the 1990’s when Darling Stables produced champions such as Northern Luck and Gothic Dream. When Windsor Raceway started to stumble Austin moved his operation to Fergus where horses like Sparky Mark and Fool Me Once headlined his stable.

Austin died suddenly on September 14, 2014 and had a career average of .345 and over C$9 million in purse money thanks to 837 wins.

Austin wasn’t only a top-notch trainer, he was also a favorite around the track as he was described as a true gentleman and was one of the nicest guys in the business.

Austin’s widow Julie and their two daughters, Paige and Paula, will be on hand for the ceremony.

Dresden Raceway has a pacing series in Austin’s honor that will start in July.