by Gary Patterson, for Dresden Raceway

Dresden, ON — Nominations are set to close this week for the Mark Austin Pacing Series that will take place at Dresden Raceway in July.

Nominations will only be accepted up until 4 p.m. on Sunday (June 25).

The series will be a late closer for maiden pacers who are non-winners of one pari-mutuel race or C$5,000 lifetime (fillies C$6,000 lifetime) as of May 27, 2017, with no allowances.

Each division will race for a C$5,000 purse in the eliminations July 9 and July 16 with the final set to go on July 23 for C$10,000.

The nomination fee is C$50 and there is a maximum of three entries per owner or trainer and a maximum of two entries per trainer in the final.
If mailed, entries must be postmarked by June 25.

For more information contact Dresden Raceway at 519.683.1116.

Mark Austin started his career in Dresden in the 1980s and that is where he broke one of the best trotters of all time in Canada, A Worthy Lad, for Joe Johnston. Austin then moved to Windsor where he worked with Jack Darling and had a hand with champions such as Gothic Dream and Northern Luck.

He then moved his stable to Fergus where he was the conditioner for many top horses in Canada such as Go Get Her, Part Shark, Xlb Patrick, Sparky Mark and Fool Me Once.

Austin died suddenly in 2014 and had a career average of .345 and more than C$9 million in earned purses thanks to 837 wins.

The Chatham native was more than just a trainer as friendships he kindled at Dresden lasted with him his entire life.

Hockey Day at Dresden Raceway

Even though it’s the middle of summer this Sunday afternoon will be about hockey at Dresden Raceway as the racetrack will be celebrating all the local hockey teams of Canada’s pastime including a Dresden LumberKings reunion.

We are inviting all hockey teams to come out…bring jerseys for pictures and enjoy a day at the track.

The LumberKings were a senior team that played in the 1970s and 1980s in Dresden and brought championships home in 1980, 1983 and 1985.
Dresden Farm equipment were the sponsors of the LumberKings which explained the John Deere green and gold colors.

The LumberKings will be honored on the track as well as Dresden Jr. Kings player Dillion Liberty who was named the OHA Jr. C Player of the Year after putting up some huge numbers with the Dresden Jr. Kings.

All hockey teams in part or in whole who are in attendance will be recognized.

You never know who shows up at the track as several former hockey players and even some current players stop by the track from time to time.

Post time for the afternoon card of racing is set for 1:30 p.m.