Running Aces Harness Park Finishes its Inaugural Meet

Running Aces Harness Park concluded its inaugural meet on Sunday, July 6, and named 19-year-old John Delong its Driver-of-the-Year and a 20-year-old Justin Anfinson its Trainer-of-the-Year. The pair is believed to be the youngest dash-winning driver and trainer combo at any harness track in history.

Delong had 76 wins and captured the Driver-of-the-Year title by a wide margin. A native of Minnesota, Anfinson won 39 races, but didn’t earn his Trainer-of-the-Year title until the very last race of the 2008 meet in a close match up against Duane Miller.

Total purses for the three-month first-ever meet at Running Aces were $1,048,400 for an average of $2461 per race.

Running Aces Harness Park will continue operations with a 24 hour, 50-table state-of-the art card room with blackjack, Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em, seven-card stud and other games, dining, simulcast betting and private events.

The only professional harness park in Minnesota, Running Aces opened for its inaugural season on April 11 with four stables and 300 stalls. 

Running Aces Harness Park is located off I-35 and Highway 97/County Road 23 (Exit 129) in Columbus, Minnesota - near Forest Lake.