Running Aces Harness Park exceeded projections for the first six months of this year. Ownership has never appeared more stable. The floor of the card room is being redesigned and the buffet menu is expanding.
"The rumor that we're closing is 100 percent false," Bob Farinella, general manager of the 16-month-old harness track in northern Anoka County, said last week. "The activity at the park has been great."
Now solely run by Connecticut-based Black Diamond Commercial Finance, the $64 million track that lost $4 million during last year's initial racing season has rarely appeared healthier, said Mary Manning, deputy executive director of the Minnesota Racing Commission.
"Three weeks ago, [officials from] Black Diamond met here and talked about increased revenue, doing new things," Manning said. "The card room's very successful. I was over there this week, and I can tell you they're busy."
Because Running Aces did not charge admission during its racing meet, attendance figures can only be estimated. The track is not expected to present revenue reports for its races until September, Manning said.
But for a track that stumbled out of the gate when it opened, Running Aces may be finally hitting its stride.
Manning praised Running Aces for its dollar-night promotion, those Tuesday nights when beverages and hot dogs go for $1 each. She said that attendance on Saturdays was good and on Sundays, often great.
"I don't think they hit their handle projections, but most tracks are down 12 percent this summer," she said. "But ... on Sundays and Tuesdays their signal was received easily by other tracks. Considering the economy, they've done well."
