by Gary Patterson, for Dresden Raceway

Dresden, ON — Dresden Raceway ended the 2017 season on a high note, crushing last year’s numbers with a big season finale on Monday (Aug. 7).

A crowd of more than 1,800 people were on hand for the annual Free Corn on the Cob Day and wagered C$45 235 to end the year with a total handle of C$282,506 which was C$39,773 more than the 2016 campaign.

Dresden Raceway photo

Weskey and Tyler Borth hold off Spy Flex and Nick Steward to win for the fifth time this season at Dresden Raceway.

Not only was the handle up but so was attendance which means revenues at the concessions and at the bar were also up.

Lucille (Laprise) and her group with the Dresden Ag Society worked hard to make Dresden Raceway a Sunday afternoon destination with giveaways, prizes and making it a fun clean place to spend a day with family and friends.

Laprise, the Dresden Ag Society president was quick to shun the credit.

“We have a great team here and are working hard to improve every year and make Dresden Raceway better. We have some great fans, businesses and volunteers that make this track a great place to be.”

A bump in attendance of almost 30 percent bodes well for local racing with almost 11,000 people pushing through the gates for the season.

“We have seen some new faces over the last couple of years and have also seen many people that haven’t been here in a while but are returning. That is very encouraging going forward,” Laprise said.

On the track, the day was marked with guest announcer Roger Huston making his Dresden Raceway debut, the 138th track the famous race announcer has called at. Huston, dubbed ‘The Voice,’ took time to sign autographs and chat with fans throughout the day after tagging five races with his exciting race call.

Tyler Borth guided Weskey around the local oval for the last time, going wire-to-wire with the 14-year-old gelding in 2:04.1. Borth is a co-owner along with his father Bill as well as the trainer of the Wesgate Crown offspring. Weskey has visited the winner’s circle five times in eight starts this year at Dresden.

Garrett Rooney notched one winner on the day but was still the clear dash winner at Dresden Raceway with 26 victories on the year. Borth had two winners to give him 21 first place finishes on the year while Nick Steward had three trips to the winner’s circle which gives him third place with 15 wins.

Borth had two training wins which gives him a grand total of eight wins on the year as a conditioner which matches Donnie Rankin for top spot.