The Mark Austin Pacing Series kicks off at Dresden Raceway this Sunday (June 10) and it’s anybody’s guess who will take home the top purse of $12,700 for the final.

The Mark Austin Pacing Series will showcase pacing colts & geldings who are non-winners of one race or $5,000 (CDN) lifetime, and fillies & mares who are non-winners of one race or $6,000 (CDN) lifetime, as of May 15, 2018.

Racing action at Dresden Raceway

The Series is held in honour of trainer Mark Austin, who died suddenly in 2014. Austin got his start at Dresden Raceway in early 1980s and 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 also worked with Jack Darling during the 1990s when Darling Stables produced champions like Northern Luck and Gothic Dream.

The Chatham native then moved his operation to Fergus, Ont. where he develeoped horses like Sparky Mark and Fool Me Once. Austin had a career training average of .345 and over $9 million in earned purses thanks to 837 wins.

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

In Sunday’s first leg Dynasty Seelster looks sharp for owners Jack Wray and Scott Dunbar. The three-year-old Shadow Play filly is coming off a second place finish at Hiawatha Horse Park in 1:59.1. Andy Moore will be at the controls.

Grand Bay has also had an impressive start to her career as she has won two in a row at Dresden Raceway. The three-year-old Badlands Hanover filly is owned by Jim Napper and trained by Cathy Gaudreau. Dresden’s leading riensman Tyler Borth will be in the bike.

In the second division Tom Bain-trained Onimpulse is the favourite. The four-year-old Mister Big mare is coming off a front-end win on a sloppy track at Dresden. Onimpulse is owned by Don McMurren while Alex Lilley is the driver.

A Bit A Billie looks to be the best in the third leg. The six-year-old Stonebridge Regal mare is coming off a third-place finish at Hiawatha Horse Park for her first start of the year. Lenore and Eric Prince of North Buxton are the owners while Lenore is the trainer. Veteran teamster Mark Williams will be the driver.

Thriller Night could be a long shot to win the series. If the three-year-old Feelin Frisky gelding regains his form from May where he had a first and second place finish at Hiawatha for owner Randy Zhok and trainer Bill Brown. Garrett Rooney will be at the controls for the Ohio-bred.

First race post time on Sunday is set for 1:30 p.m.

Dresden’s on-track average handle is up 18.5 percent from last year and attendance is up over 20 percent, which is staying true to the trend over the last three seasons.

For full entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Dresden Raceway.

(with files from Dresden)