by Matthew Lomon

Labeling harness racing as a ‘pastime’ for the residents of Dresden, ON is about as big an understatement as classifying Fenway Park as a ‘solid spot’ to take in some baseball.

With roots tracing back to the 1800s, the standardbred game has been stitched into the fabric of this southwestern Ontario town for nearly three centuries.

Every year without fail, the quaint community of 2,500 converges on its cherished half-mile oval to admire one of the province’s most celebrated grassroots racing programs.

“The small communities love to go to these tracks because No. 1, it’s convenient and No. 2, they’ve been going there their entire lives, and it means something to them,” said the voice of Dresden racing, track announcer Nathan Bain.

The story is no different in 2024.

Dresden kicked off its 11-week program with an eight-race card on Sunday (May 26).

Six more race dates, including the final for the Mark Austin Memorial Pacing Series on June 16, and most recently (July 1), three Ontario Sires Stakes events as part of the OSS 50th Anniversary celebration tour, have since passed.

The man behind the mic through it all said strong turnouts have helped fuel a successful 2024 campaign.

“It’s been excellent,” Bain said. “Last week [with the OSS series], we broke $100,000 in handle, which is pretty rare for the grassroots tracks. And I think we’ve taken a great step forward this year; the crowds have been excellent, the weather’s been good. Considering the horse population, we’ve been getting some good races.

“There’s been some good betting races, as well as full fields in a lot of races, not all of them, but so far, it’s been really good.”

Dresden’s dual OSS-Canada Day celebration on July 1 was particularly memorable for Bain, who noted the palpable energy emanating from an exuberant gallery of spectators.

“Oh, it was incredible, especially as an announcer, you really feed off the crowd,” he said. “The betting lines were very long, which was great to see. You could hear the crowd screaming and cheering and I think it really plays a role for the drivers as well, because they can see and hear the fans. I’m sure it’s a lot more exciting for them to drive in front of a full grandstand.

“It makes the atmosphere better for everybody.”

Those in attendance on that beautiful Monday afternoon witnessed Garrett Rooney, Dresden’s leading driver in 2023 and through seven cards in 2024, show exactly why he’s worthy of such a distinction.

The Iona, ON-based reinsman collected five of his 19 Dresden scores that day. For the current season, Rooney paces Dresden’s driver colony in wins, purse earnings ($66,695), and UDRS (.566).

Rooney, however, is not the only accomplished driver who regularly tries their hand at 1244 North St.

Nick Steward, Donald Rankin, Jr., and Scott Wray are among some of the top driving talents routinely featured at Dresden.

Between them, the trio has accumulated 8,015 wins and some $38.4 million in purse earnings.

Bain believes history, location, and a commitment to quality all contribute to the track’s long-standing appeal.

“Dresden has been around for so many years and a lot of these guys have been coming here since their early days,” Bain said. “Garrett Rooney’s pretty close to Dresden. For some, like Donald Rankin, it’s the closest track that’s racing, especially after Windsor Raceway closed, a lot of these guys have to travel to London all year long.

“Dresden is about an hour away from a lot of them, so it’s close, and they love racing in the afternoon with beautiful weather and a strong crowd in the grandstand. The track crew’s done an excellent job this year of keeping the surface in great shape and that’s something the drivers really value when racing out here.”

Rankin, who’s in the midst of his 49th professional campaign, has been a Bain family favorite for years.

Nathan’s father, David Bain, is a trainer/owner who’s heavily relied on Rankin’s services since signing on as a full-time conditioner in 2020.

Competitors under the Bain family domain include 9-year-old mare Marilyn, 8-year-old bay gelding Better Than Cash, and a 3-year-old filly by the name of Premier Elsa.

According to the younger Bain, who assumed his role at Dresden in 2023 as a 20-year-old, there’s plenty to look forward to over the track’s final four-week stretch.

This upcoming Sunday (July 14) will see Dresden play host to the fourth annual Harness The Hope event in support of breast cancer research, followed by Hawaiian Day on July 21 and Kid’s Day on July 28.

“We typically get a lot of young fans at the track which is nice to see and that’s why we keep doing events like Kid’s Day,” Nathan said. “It helps us connect with the youth in our industry and make it enjoyable for them as well. It’s of vital importance that we build the next generation of fans because that helps make sure the sport is sustainable.

“We try our best to create a family atmosphere at Dresden.”

Dresden’s summer program rounds out on Aug. 5 with Black Heritage Day – an event that carries significant historical importance within the community.

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.

“Black Heritage Day has always been a special one at Dresden,” Nathan said. “The track will be honoring the individuals and families that have contributed to the success of Dresden Raceway and the surrounding areas of the racetrack.

“The turnout is always massive on the last day. We get a huge crowd and it’s nice that a lot of families will come out and celebrate the day. It’s an event we always look forward to.”

Fans will also have the chance to participate in the Inside Harness Handicapping contest, which Nathan said has been a big hit this year.

The challenge, which rewards winning fans with a $300 HPI betting voucher, has received positive feedback on social media.

Nathan added that horseplayers in the United States can also participate for a chance at a voucher worth $200 USD.

Upon the conclusion of Dresden’s 2024 term, Nathan, much like horsepeople in the area, will take his talents about one-hour southwest to Leamington Raceway.

The 124-year-old racing venue will begin its latest campaign on Aug. 11.

Together, Dresden and Leamington have kept the light shining on horse racing in this corner of Ontario, especially following the closure of Windsor Raceway in 2012 after 47 years in operation.

“Having Leamington is important because it’s really the only track in that area in southwestern Ontario and it gives somewhere close for the horsepeople to travel to,” Nathan said. “In the offseason, a lot of horsepeople are traveling an hour and a half or two hours to London, and Leamington keeps people in the business.”

For Nathan, Leamington is where his passion for the game first blossomed as an 11-year-old in the crowd.

At age 22, the now veteran race caller returns to where it all started with the hopes of inspiring the next generation of harness racing fans.

“For Dresden and Leamington, the on-track atmospheres are based a lot on family,” Nathan said. “We need a lot of young people and that’s the reason I got into the business. When Leamington opened, we went to go cheer on my grandfather’s horses and I just loved the atmosphere, and I kept going every week.

“Having grassroots racing is incredibly important for the future of our game.”