Columbus, MN – Running Aces is gearing up for the 2026 edition of the Ron Banks Memorial Free-for-All Mare Pace, which will kick off with elimination races on Sunday, June 21, going for $17,500 in each division, and the final will be contested one week later on Sunday (June 28) for a purse of $35,000.
Ron Banks, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 73, was a well-respected owner, trainer, breeder and race announcer in Minnesota as well as across the upper-Midwest region and also served as a longtime board member of Minnesota Harness Racing Inc. and was one of the people that worked hard to get a pari-mutuel harness racing track going in Minnesota in the early 2000s, his efforts and others eventually led to the opening of Running Aces in 2008. Ron is fondly remembered at Running Aces with this event each June.
Here is the list of the nominees for the 2026 Ron Banks Memorial in alphabetical order (listed with trainer):
Crazy Cute (Kathie Plested)
Divine Art (Gerald Longo)
Eva’s Star (Brady Jenson)
Fox Valley Groupie (Brett Ballinger)
Graceful Horizon (Nick Roland)
Heart Song (Kathie Plested)
I’m Fancy Like (Brett Ballinger)
JK My Girl (Robert Lems)
K T Part E (Brady Jenson)
Kele Kele (Brady Jenson)
Miss Fancy Nancy (Brady Jenson)
More Gooda N (Harold Herrera)
Mother Mary (Mikaela Del Giudice)
Premier Desirey (Harold Herrera)
Teelatini (Justin Anfinson)
Twist Little Girl N (Nick Roland)
Wish I Had Thyme (Alexia Kehl)
The 2026 season at Running Aces is now in full swing and features live racing every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday night through late September.
To view the full live racing calendar, schedule of featured race nights and promotions and much more, please visit the track’s website www.RunAces.com.