Snow won't stop opening of harness racing season Friday

Running Aces Harness Park will feature eight races on Fridays through Mondays through July 6

By TIM HARLOW, Star Tribune

Last update: April 10, 2008 - 10:21 AM

Legal challenges and financial concerns could not stop the opening of Minnesota's newest professional harness racing track. An early-spring snowstorm won't put it on ice either.

Running Aces Harness Park near Forest Lake will begin its 50-date season Friday, rain, shine or snow, said Gregg Keidel, director of racing for the park.

"We race regardless of weather, unless it reaches 20 below," he said. "The track is half limestone and is spiral-graded, so it drains well. It's harrowed around the clock in bad weather. Safety is not factor. "

The starting gun will go off at 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays. Post time on Sundays is at 3 p.m. The season runs through July 6, including two Tuesdays, June 17 and 24. Races on those days commence at 3 p.m.

Each date will feature eight races at the outdoor track, which officially is in the City of Columbus in Anoka County off of Interstate Hwy. 35 and Hwy. 97.

Opening weekend festivities include appearances by former Minnesota Twins manager Tom Kelly, who owns a dozen harness race horses, and John Pawlak, marketing director for the U.S. Trotting Association. They will be the featured guests during opening weekend. Pawlak will lead complimentary "Handicapping 101" seminars before races on Friday and Saturday.

The facility includes seating for 250 spectators, stables with 300 stalls, a full service restaurant and a sports bar and lounge overlooking the 5/8th-mile oval track.

When the racing season ends in July, a 50-table card room is set to open.

Harness racing doesn't have a big presence in Minnesota, but the state is home to one of the sport's most famous pacers. Dan Patch earned the titles of the "World's Champion Harness Horse" when he set world speed records in the early 1900s, including running a 1:55 mile in 1906 at the Minnesota State Fair in front of 93,000 fans.