Leamington Raceway kicks off season with new announcer

By Mark Ribble

LEAMINGTON — Nathan Bain called his first harness race when he was 12 years old at the Leamington fairgrounds track.

Since then, he’s been the guest announcer at nine different tracks across the United States and Canada, calling about 100 races.

When Leamington Raceway’s harness racing season kicks off on Sunday, August 9, the 18-year-old will be at the microphone as the new track announcer there.

He follows in the footsteps of veterans Gary Patterson and Marty Adler, both well-respected announcers who are considered among the best in the business.

Bain has been around the harness racing industry for as long as he can remember.

His grandfather, Tom Bain, has 50 years under his belt as an owner, trainer and driver. His father just attained his trainer’s license, so this is certainly a lifelong family business.

His interest in announcing began during his childhood, as he watch and listened carefully to the lingo used by the veteran announcers before him.

It was a four-horse finish in this race during the 2019 season at Leamington Raceway.

He’s now enrolled in a three-year advertising and communications program at St. Clair College, which fits right in with his new position.

He was helping out at Dresden Raceway until their season wrapped this this past weekend.

The Lakeshore Horse Racing Association will hold races at the Leamington Fairgrounds track every Sunday starting August 9 and running through October.

With the COVID-19 Stage 2 protocols in place, race fans will not be allowed to be in attendance, but Bain says that shouldn’t stop fans from watching and wagering.

“We have improved our live stream and graphics on our website,” he says.

Nathan Bain, 18, takes over as track announcer at Leamington Raceway this season.

Technology has advanced so far that fans will now be able to watch and wager on their smartphones or tablets.

The races will be live streamed on www.lakeshoreshorseraceway.com. If you want to wager on the races, you’ll need to sign up a HPIbet.com and get an account.

Bain encourages race fans to sign up on HPIbet.com so they will be ready to roll on Sunday, when Post Time hits at 1:30 pm.

You can download a free racing program on the Lakeshore website starting Thursday of each racing week.

As for fulfilling a life-long dream, Nathan Bain is happy to be sitting in the announcer’s booth as the raceway’s official track announcer, where he has the best view in the house.

“It’s something I’ve always aspired to do,” he said.

RACE DATES

Leamington Raceway’s race dates for the 2020 season are every Sunday, plus an extra race date on Labour Day, Monday, September 7.

Post time is 1:30 pm for all dates and currently, no fans are allowed to attend.

Sun August 9, 2020

Sun August 16, 2020

Sun August 23, 2020

Sun August 30, 2020

Sun September 6, 2020

Mon September 7, 2020

Sun September 13, 2020

Sun September 20, 2020

Sun September 27, 2020

Sun October 4, 2020

Sun October 11, 2020

Sun October 18, 2020

Sun October 25, 2020