Columbus, MN – Running Aces is set for the 2026 Steve Wiseman Memorial Trot event which highlights a twelve-race program on Sunday (Aug.16) at the Minnesota oval and features a very talented field of seven going into battle for the $35,000 contest.
Wiseman campaigned at Running Aces for more than a decade and was one of the most popular and well respected driver/trainers to ever compete here. He won multiple titles at Running Aces as both a driver and trainer, and amassed over 3,000 wins and over $10 million in purses during his career. In early 2000 he was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer and he fought valiantly against the disease for more than a year but sadly passed away in 2001.
Wiseman is honored each August at Running Aces with our biggest trotting event of the year, and Wiseman night is billed as “Whatever It Takes” night at the races which is the approach that he took after receiving the diagnosis. Steve was a very positive person and took on all challenges in this manner. In Steve’s honor and memory, the Wiseman Memorial event at Running Aces also benefits The Colon Cancer Coalition which is an organization that works hard to raise awareness about the disease and promotes early screening programs and support programs related to the disease.
This year the Running Aces horsemen made a special effort to raise money for the charity, and Stephen Chambers, a prominent owner in the Wiseman Stable for many years, very generously stepped up to match all donations. Wiseman would want the message that “Early Screening Saves Lives” to get as much traction as possible, and that is the main objective of The Colon Cancer Coalition.
This year’s Wiseman Memorial drew nine nominations with 8 horses going to post in the $17,500 Preview event on Sunday, (Aug. 9).
The field of seven for the 2026 final has collectively won 186 races and has earned over $2.3 million and is headlined by 2024 Wiseman Memorial Champion All Champy (by Explosive Matter), a career winner pf 51 races and $728,026. He is owned by Stephen Chambers and is trained by Steve’s wife of more than 20 years, Kathie Plested. Nick Roland will be driving All Champy.
Plested also sends out Fifty Rivers (by Fiftydallarbill) who leads the field in seasonal stats with 9 wins and $131,845 so far in 2026. He also boasts the fastest trotting mile at Aces this season (1:53) which he posted on June 28. Casey Leonard is the regular pilot for Fifty Rivers.
Another headliner is Inferno DK, the Danish-bred trotter by Great Challenger who set a new track record last week with a very impressiver 1:53.2 tally in the Wiseman preview for trainer/driver Brady Jenson.
The previous record holder for aged trotting geldings was Pridecrest in 1:53.4 with Steve Wiseman in the bike, back in 2018.
Here is a look at the full field for the 2026 Wiseman Memorial final (Race 8):
1. Chapolier (Luke Plano) 8-1
2. Lexus Markus (Dean Magee) 6-1
I3. nferno DK (Brady Jenson) 9-5
4. Fifty Rivers (Casey Leonard) 5-2
5. Peanutbutterfalcon (Scott Cisco) 6-1
6. All Champy (Nick Roland) 10-1
7. Escaper (Rick Magee) 9-2
Post time for the Wiseman night card is 6 p.m.
There is a ‘Whatever It Takes’ T-Shirt giveaway to the first 500 patrons, there are ‘Family Night’ specials and kid’s activities, trout fishing, food trucks, a ‘Sole Survivor’ handicapping contest and more.