Running Aces shares late closers, stall apps and meet details for 2024

Columbus, MN — Running Aces Casino, Hotel and Racetrack will present it’s seventeenth season of live harness racing starting on Sunday, May 19 with action offered three nights per week on a Tuesday-Thursday-Sunday basis.

Post times for 2024 will feature 7:00 pm starts on Tuesdays and 6:00 pm starts on Thursdays and Sundays.

The summer season will wrap up with special Friday and Saturday racing on September 20 and 21 featuring the track’s signature Minnesota ‘Night of Champions’ program on the final card of the 55-night stand.

The backside (stable area) will open on Sunday (May 5), and the track will be available for training starting on Monday (May 6).

Running Aces and Minnesota Harness Racing are pleased to present the track’s signature Free-for-all events again in 2024, headlined by the Dan Patch FFA Pace which will offer $20,000 eliminations and a $50,000 final during the final two weekends of July. Nomination fee for the Dan Patch FFA is $500.

The Ron Banks Memorial FFA Mares Pace offers $17,500 eliminations and a $35,000 final and will span the final two weekends of June. Nomination fee for the Ron Banks Memorial is $300.

The Steve Wiseman Memorial FFA Trot will also offer $17,500 eliminations and a $35,000 final and will be featured during the second two weekends in August. Nomination fee for the Steve Wiseman Memorial is also $300.

In addition to the Free-for-all events, Running Aces will also offer two additional series events during May and June – The Banker Volo and The Burning Blaze. Nomination fee for these two events is $125 for each.

The Banker Volo will be offered for trotters who are N/W $15,000 Lifetime through 4/15/24 with allowances for Fillies and Mares and for Minnesota-sired participants. It offers purses of $7,000 in the first two legs and $15,000 for the final on Sunday (June 9).

The Burning Blaze series is offered for pacers who are N/W $12,500 Lifetime through 4/15/24 with allowances for Fillies and Mares and for Minnesota-sired participants. It also offers purses of $7,000 in the first two legs and $15,000 for the final on Thursday (June 13).

The 2024 Running Aces Stall Applications, 2024 Horsemen Brochure, complete details and nomination forms for the 2024 Late Closers, and much more is now available on the Running Aces website under the Racing/Horsemen Resources tab.

Here is a list of important dates leading up to the 2024 Aces live racing season:

Stall Applications due by: Monday (March 18)
Stall Allocations posted: Tuesday (April 9)
Backstretch opens: Sunday (May 5)
Track opens for training: Monday (May 6)
Pre-season Qualifiers (#1): Thursday (May 9)
Pre-season Qualifiers (#2): Tuesday (May 14)
Opening night: Sunday (May 19)

Prospective horsemen are reminded that Racing Applications must be completed by all trainers that wish to compete at Running Aces in 2024 including those trainers who intend to ship-in to race. Trainers should list all horses that they intend to race at Running Aces.

All questions related to Stall and Racing Applications, Late Closers or other Horsemen Resources concerns should be directed to Racing Director Steve Carpenito at (651) 925-4532 or via email to: SCarpenito@RunAces.com.

by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces