from Running Aces Harness Park

Columbus, MN — Running Aces Harness Park hopes to resume the 2011 season this Saturday (July 23) as the state of Minnesota budget impasse, which has idled the Minnesota Racing Commission and a host of other state agencies since July 1, appears to be nearing a resolution.

An “agreement in principle” between the Governor and legislative leaders, reached this past Thursday night, has been debated and confirmed in individual committee meetings every day since. It appears that the Governor will call a Special Session Tuesday or Wednesday to ratify the budget agreement and thus immediately get the state government up and running again.

Running Aces Director of Racing Gregg Keidel has scheduled a Wednesday morning deadline for entries for Saturday, but could postpone the actual post position draw until Thursday morning if necessary. A draw for the Sunday night program has been scheduled for Friday morning.

The deadline for a quartet of Late Closers was extended due to the state-imposed shutdown. The new entry deadline is Tuesday with horsemen asked to submit their entries directly to the race office or call them in at 651.925.4532. All four series will be contested exactly two weeks later than originally scheduled.

A limited number of stalls at Running Aces are available for the first time in four seasons. Trainers interested in coming to Minnesota for the final 32 programs of the current season can contact Keidel at 651.260.8250.