The impact that Dr. Joe Johnston had on horsepeople in Southwestern Ontario was immeasurable and many of his family and friends told stories today about the longtime vet who passed away in January of 2016.
“He was a great guy. Joe was always there when you needed him and he would help anybody,” said Dennis Duford. “I was proud to call him a friend but he had so many people who respected him for not just being a great vet but for also being a great guy.”
Family members were in attendance at Dresden Raceway as Johnston was enshrined into the Dresden Raceway Hall of Fame. The Dresden native was valedictorian of his graduating high school class in Dresden and was one of the top of his class at the University of Guelph Veterinary School.
Johnston’s memorial race was just after the race named after his top horse, A Worthy Lad, who won 30 out of 30 starts and never lost on Canadian soil before he was sold to Swedish interests for $1.5 million, which at the time was the highest amount ever paid for a Standardbred in Canada.
Victorys Peanut was the winner of the Dr. Joe Johnston Memorial Trot. The 14-year-old Brilliant Victory gelding is owned and trained by William Leon of Maidstone, Ont., and was driven to victory in 2:03 by Nick Steward.
Veteran horseman Ken Gown sat behind three-year-old filly Bellas Oasis in today’s 10th race making him one of the oldest people in Canada to drive in a sanctioned race this year at age 81.
Dresden Raceway saw almost 1,000 people roll through the turnstiles and wagered a total handle of $26,725.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Dresden Raceway.
(With files from Dresden Raceway)