Columbus, MN – Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack is pleased to announce its race dates for the 2026 meet, the 19th in its history, which have been approved by the Minnesota Racing Commission.
The excitement of live racing will get underway on Sunday, May 17, and will conclude on Saturday, Sept. 19, with a total of 55 nights of racing on tap.
The racing schedule will be similar to the last couple of seasons, featuring live action three nights per week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. The only exception is in the final week of the season, in which Thursday, Sept. 17, will be dark in preparation for the special Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19 – the Minnesota Night of Champions festivities.
Post time for all Tuesday evening race cards will be 7 p.m. (CDT), while post time for all other race nights will be at 6 p.m. (CDT).
Total purses for the 2026 meet are projected to surpass $6 million as they have during our previous four seasons. Highlighting the action over the Minnesota five-eighths-mile oval will again be the Dan Patch (Free-For-All Pacers), the Ron Banks Memorial (F&M Free-For-All Pacers) and the Steve Wiseman Memorial (Free-For-All Trotters).
As always, all eyes are pointed to the final night of the meet, Saturday, Sept. 19, the Minnesota Night of Champions. In 2025, a record-equaling single-card total of $780,000 was distributed on closing night to the best and brightest stars of the Minnesota-sired program.
Additional featured race nights and promotions will be announced closer to the start of the season.
The stable area is scheduled to open on Kentucky Derby Day – Saturday, May 2 – to enhance the festivities scheduled to take place at Running Aces that day. The first preseason qualifying session is scheduled for Thursday, May 7, over the Minnesota five-eighths-mile oval.
Running Aces Casino, Hotel & Racetrack plans to begin accepting stalls applications in mid-January for the 2026 racing season.
Questions regarding stall applications, race conditions or any other racing related inquiries should be directed to Racing Director Steve Carpenito at 651-925-4532 or by email: SCarpenito@RunAces.com.