Running Aces three weeks from grand opening

The Grand Opening of Running Aces Harness Park, just north of Minnesota’s Twin Cities, is just three weeks away and preparations for the inaugural season are on schedule. The grandstand, barn area and racetrack are all getting final touches before horses start arriving on Friday, March 28.

“Stall applications were received from 61 trainers with 502 horses,” reports Gregg Keidel, the director of racing. “Eleven states and Manitoba were represented, so interest is obviously keen in North America’s newest racing venue. We have only 212 stalls for permanent stabling, in addition to 40 ship-in stalls, so some tough decisions were necessary in the stall allocation process, but I believe we’ve assembled a group of trainers and horses that can produce a very competitive and entertaining first season.”

Other veteran racing officials at Running Aces are general manager Bob Farinella, presiding judge Ken Stock, director of facilities/trackman John Betts, asst. race secretary/paddock judge Rod Newhart, and program director/Charter Scott Peine. Associate judges will be Tom Swift and Bob Corey Jr., the identifier/horseman’s bookkeeper is Bobbi Hansen and outrider is Ashley Holliday.

The first actual races over the new five-eighths mile surface will be qualifying heats on Saturday, March 29, and again on Saturday, April 5.

“This is the earliest in the calendar that there has ever been any actual racing in Minnesota, Wisconsin or Iowa, where 60 percent of our horses will come from,” said Keidel, “so we may have a little difficulty filling races during the first few weeks. But I expect full competitive fields for the large majority of our 53-day meet. Everyone on the management team and all the horsemen on their way here are extremely eager for the first ‘Call to Post.’ It should be fun!”

Details of the Grand Opening celebration for April 11 will be announced soon. (Running Aces)

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