Nominations for the 2024 Mark Austin Memorial Pacing Series at Dresden Raceway are due Monday, April 1.
Dresden Raceway would like to remind horsepeople that the series expanded in 2023 to two divisions and will again include a mares pace division in addition to the open pace division in 2024.
The open division is for maiden pacers that are non-winners of one pari-mutual race or $5,000 lifetime, as of midnight March 31, 2024. No allowances.
The mares division is for filly and mare maiden pacers that are non-winners of one pari-mutual race or $5,000 lifetime, as of midnight March 31, 2024. No allowances.
Each division will have two legs with $5,000 guaranteed purses on June 2 and June 9, followed by $12,000 added finals on June 16.
The nomination fee due on Monday, April 1, 2024 is $100 ($80 USD).
Mark Austin was a trainer who hailed from Chatham, Ont. and got his start at Dresden Raceway in the early 1980s, 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, Ont. and worked with Jack Darling during the 1990s, when Darling Stables produced champions like Northern Luck and Gothic Dream.
When Windsor Raceway began its decline, Austin moved his operation to Fergus, Ont., where horses like Sparky Mark and Fool Me Once headlined his stable.
Austin, who passed away suddenly in 2014, had a career training average of .345 and more than $9 million in earned purses with 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 one of the nicest guys in the business. Austin was married to Julie, with two daughters, Paige and Paula.
For more information on the series, visit Dresden-Raceway.ca.
Dresden Raceway's 2024 harness racing season opens on Sunday, May 26.
(With files from Dresden Raceway)