$42,750 Ron Banks Memorial highlights Sunday card

Columbus, MN – The Sunday night (June 29) harness racing program at Running Aces will feature the 2025 Ron Banks Memorial with a very talented field of nine distaffers lining up to battle for the $42,750 purse in race seven on the twelve race program.

Ron Banks, who was a prominent owner, trainer, breeder and announcer in Minnesota is remembered each year at Running Aces with this event. Mr. Banks was devoted to his family, his church, youth sports and harness racing. He spent many years serving fellow horsemen on the MHRI board and worked tirelessly to help bring a pari-mutuel harness racing track to the state, an effort that eventually led to the opening of Running Aces in 2008.

Scorecard Dandy has been tabbed as the 9-5 favorite on the morning line with Dean Magee driving from post six for trainer John Filomeno.

The 7-year-old daughter of Sportsmaster will be making her first local start of the season and shows two wins from twelve starts this year, and has most recently been campaigning  in the top mares Open events at Oak Grove Gaming and Racing in Kentucky.

The second choice on the early line at 9/2 is Kele Kele, who will depart from post four with trainer/driver Brady Jenson in the bike.

Kele Kele is a 6-year-old daughter of So Surreal who has had the benefit of four local starts this year with two local wins including a seasonal best 1:53 mile in the distaff Open on May 22.

Rounding out the well matched field for this year’s Banks FFA are #7 Twist Little Girl N (Lemoyne Svendsen, 5-1), #1 Graceful Horizon (Nick Roland, 6-1), #3 Lloyd’s Loves (Rick Magee, 6-1), #5 Majors Miracle (Josiah Miller, 8-1), #2 Ideal Skies (Luke Plano, 10-1), #8 Illusion Seelster (Billy Mann, 10-1), and #9 I’m Fancy Like (Scott Cisco, 15-1).

Last year’s Ron Banks FFA winner was Illusion Seelster (Jacob Cutting, $4.20) in 1:51 which tied the track record for 4-year-old mares.

The Sunday card will also feature two divisions of the Minnesota-sired sophomore trotters, with a total purse of $35,000 as well as the $14,750 Open Handicap Trot.

Sunday’s program also plays host to This Old Horse, a local racehorse aftercare and transitioning program and rescue for retired equine racing competitors. There are sponsored races for This Old Horse as well as opportunities to purchase race packets supporting the charity or make direct donations to help the program.

Pepsi Family Night Specials and Kids Activities will also compliment the racing action, along with Trout Fishing, Food Trucks and the Sunday Sole Survivor Contest.

Post time on Sunday is 6 p.m. (CDT).

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces