by Matthew Lomon

Sunday afternoons in Dresden, ON are meant to be spent at the racetrack.

While the exact date and time of each race day has fluctuated over the years, the community of 2,400’s passion for the sport has not.

On Sunday (May 25), live harness racing returns to the quaint half-mile oval with the first program of its 11-day 2025 meet.

The first dash on Dresden Raceway’s Opening Day, which leaves the gate at its season-standard 1 p.m. post time, will serve as the proverbial ribbon cutting on 150 years of racing in the southwestern Ontario town.

Ahead of the landmark occasion, track announcer Nathan Bain discussed harness racing’s profound presence in the community, the Raceway’s role in uplifting its enduring legacy, and what fans can look forward to in 2025.

“Dresden’s been around for so long, and so many people began their careers here,” Bain said. “We did a throwback Thursday recently when Apaches Fame set the track record for 2-year-old’s [colt pacers] back in 1989. There have been a lot of great horsepeople and horses to spend time at Dresden Raceway over the years.”

Bain, who is entering his third season as the voice of Dresden racing, has experienced the Dresden tradition first-hand, graduating from spectator to horseman to trackside host and backup announcer, to his current post in the race caller’s booth.

“I’ve been going to Dresden since I was a little kid racing horses,” he said. “It’s very familiar to me, and I’m quite comfortable now knowing everybody. It feels like home.”

The first call of the year, he added, is especially electrifying.

“It’s exciting to hear the fans on the fence on Opening Day,” Bain said. “There’s always a lot of hype around it, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’ve gotten to know so many fans and horsepeople over my time here. It’s such a dedicated group all around. Everyone keeps coming back year after year to support us, and it goes to show how much small community racing means to everyone.”

The Dresden faithful will be rewarded handsomely throughout the nearly three-month season with a variety of special events and theme days, including the track’s Father’s Day card on June 15.

A smashing success year after year, this year’s Father’s Day slate will be even sweeter with the introduction of the Little Saratoga Pacing Series.

The event, open to maiden fillies and mares with lifetime earnings under $5,000, replaces the Mark Austin Memorial Pacing Series, which ran under the same conditions since its inauguration in 2017.

“It’s a great little series because we get to see a lot of young horses develop at Dresden, and it gives horses that can’t compete in the Grassroots or Prospect type races a chance to make a little money and get their racing careers kicked off,” Bain said. “It was a very popular day last year.”

In addition to the dual Father’s Day-Little Saratoga card, Bain cited the return of other fan favorite days in Harness the Hope (July 13), a breast cancer research, awareness, and support fundraising initiative, and Kids’ Day on July 27.

“Those are both days we really look forward to,” he said. “It’s a wonderful group of ladies that comes out for Harness the Hope. Fans also get to see all the horses and all the grooms decked out in pink that day.

“Kids’ Day is always exciting because we like to promote young people in the business. It’s very important that we bring young fans to the track and make it enjoyable for them, too.”

Eight Ontario Sires Stakes Prospect Series tilts will also land at Dresden over four race dates: June 8, July 20, July 27, and on closing day, Aug. 4.

Alongside the two Prospect Series contests, Dresden’s final feature wraps up with its year-end staple, Black Heritage Day.

The annual event carries considerable historical significance in the community, as the Chatham-Kent region of Ontario is closely tied to the Underground Railroad and is home to the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History.

“Every year on our Closing Day card we celebrate Black Heritage Day,” Bain said. “I think this year is going to pull everyone together to celebrate it even more. It’s going to be a very special season.”

Closing Day at Dresden falls on the Civic Holiday, adding another layer to one of the Raceway’s most celebrated occasions.

On the track, fans can expect to see more familiar faces and some of the grassroots circuit’s top performers, including last year’s leading driver, Garrett Rooney.

After winning 36 races for nearly $114,000 across 87 starts at Dresden last year, the Iona, ON-based reinsman told Bain that he will indeed be back in 2025.

“Obviously, people love the summer racing, and we have a great group of drivers,” Bain said. “Garrett Rooney, our leading driver, he’ll be returning this season, which is very exciting. Hopefully, we can put some nice cards together for the horsepeople and the horseplayers.”

Bain said he expects this year’s driving colony to be similar to that of Hiawatha Horse Park in neighboring Sarnia, ON.

If his hunch is correct, that will mean the return of drivers Nick Steward, Scott Wray, and Donald Rankin, Jr., each of whom finished top seven in last year’s standings.

Bain harbors hope that when all put together, Dresden’s commitment to delivering an atmosphere authentic to the track and its supporters, is reflected in the live racing experience.

“We have the same fans coming back every single year and it just goes to show how dedicated they are,” he said. “Hopefully, we can bring in some new fans as well. The crowds were very strong last year, and I think the most important thing is you see people come once and then they’re back every single week.

“What really matters is that they’re enjoying the experience that Dresden Raceway offers. I think we forget just how important the on-track experience is and that’s why we try to do exciting events and draws during the day to keep people entertained throughout the card because we want them to come back every single week.”

Those who make it out to Dresden, even if only for one race day, can be assured everyone involved — staff and horsepeople — are doing everything in their power to put on a good show.

“There are so many people that work tirelessly to make sure everything goes smoothly at Dresden,” Bain said. “We’ve got a great team that puts it all together every single week.

“Without all the people that help and support Dresden Raceway, it wouldn’t be possible. We’re looking forward to celebrating 150 years of racing, and we’re grateful for everyone who has, and will continue to be a part of it with us.”