by Darin Gagne, for Running Aces

Columbus, MN — Running Aces is getting set to close out the 2018 season with the annual Night of Champions program on Saturday (Sept. 15).

For the 2018 Night of Champions program Running Aces has partnered with Xpressbet as a promotional sponsor. There will be 11 championship races with total purses of $395,000 and the track is also offering two $15,000 Open events to cap off the richest program of harness racing in Minnesota history.

First post on the betting card is 6 p.m. (CDT) and the program will feature mandatory payouts in all pools, including the 20-cent Pick-5 jackpot, which is estimated to start out at near $50,000 so long as it carries through to closing night.

Running Aces is also happy to announce that we are bringing back NAHUpicks.com for a live broadcast of the entire Night of Champions program, with Rod Allums Jr. and Ray Cotolo joining track announcer Darin Gagne on the live set, and Mike Pribozie joining the program remotely. We also have Ken Terpenning from Harness Racing Replays coming out to join the broadcast team and help us provide the best possible coverage of the action with interviews, in-depth analysis and behind the scenes information about some of the championship contenders.

The night will be filled with prize drawings, beat the announcer promotions, and other creative ways for fans to win RA, Xpress Bet, and other harness racing swag prizes including t-shirts, hats and more, and winning drivers will toss out t-shirts from the winner’s circle after each race as well. Guests will also have a chance to win dining certificates, hockey tickets, and betting vouchers with amounts from $20 all the way up to grand prizes of $50 and $100.

Live music form Jake Nelson will also cap off the night’s festivities, along with local vendor Tin Whiskers Brewing Company of Saint Paul onsite with free samples and a chance to win a prize package. House-smoked pulled pork sandwiches will be on special, and the Trout-Air Tavern restaurant will feature a special racing buffet. There will also be $4 and $5 specials on beer, wine and cocktails from Tin Whiskers and other local vendors available throughout the evening.