Good attendance for eventful Dresden opening day

Dresden Raceway hosted a local mayor and awarded prizes for great hats as it opened its doors on Monday for the first of its 11 harness racing cards in 2022.

According to Standardbred Canada, nearly 1,000 people visited the track nicknamed “Ontario’s Little Saratoga.”

They witnessed Littleannieoakley (Garrett Rooney) snap a 52-race losing streak as the mare moved to the front and drew off in the stretch to win the second race convincingly. Douglas Currie trains the daughter of Tigerama for Larry Currie, a Sarnia resident. It was the six-year-old mare’s third win in 84 career tries. She had not seen the winner’s circle since Aug. 30, 2020 at Leamington.

The winning drive aboard Littleannieoakley was one third of a Rooney hat trick.

Chatham-Kent mayor Darrin Canniff, who presides over Dresden, Ont., presented a blanket to the mare’s connections.

Dresden Raceway declared its first date of the season to be Derby Hat Day, in which fans are encouraged to wear Kentucky Derby-style hats, and gave gifts to four selected winners.

Congratulations to all the Derby Hat Day winners! thanks to McTavish Pharmacy and Mindful Market in Blenheim for the donations! pic.twitter.com/q2KGWehnpv

— Dresden Raceway (@dresden_raceway) May 23, 2022

Fans wagered $44,963 on the seven-race program.

The track shifts to a Sunday schedule next week on May 29 and will host the first leg of the Mark Austin Memorial Pacing Series for non-winners of one race or $5,000 lifetime. The stake honours local trainer Mark Austin, who passed away in 2014.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink