Hazel to honor Marshall

A five-decade career in harness racing will be recognized Saturday, Sept. 23, when Hazel Park Harness Raceway pays tribute to veteran racing official Ken Marshall as part of its Michigan Super Night program.

Following in the footsteps of a Hall of Famer is never easy, but Marshall has certainly succeeded. Marshall began working as race secretary at Hazel Park in 1980 following the retirement of Harness Racing Hall of Fame race secretary Bill Connors. Marshall later assumed the title of director of racing, and he recently became the suburban Detroit racetrack’s director of racetrack operations.

Marshall’s long and storied career in harness racing has also included director-of-racing stints at several other racetracks, including Louisville Downs, The Meadows, Pompano Park, Gator Downs, Tropical Park, Wolverine Raceway, Jackson Raceway and Northville Downs.

A graduate of Miami University, Marshall is a past president of the North American Harness Racing Secretaries Association, of which he is still a member. He has also served as a U.S. Trotting Association director from District 2 since the mid 1980s.

Marshall and his wife, Pat, reside in Livonia. They have three children: John, Danny and Kellie, who is married to Christian, and three grandchildren, Cameron, Olivia and Nickolas.

Marshall will be honored on a Super Night card that includes eight Michigan Sire Stakes championship races for 2 and 3-year-old pacers and trotters, with total purses approaching $1 million.

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