Running Aces Casino & Racetrack completed its ninth season of live harness racing on Saturday night, September 3 after a 53-night stand that began on May 17, and figures are up in every conceivable category to cap off the most successful meet in the track’s history.

On-track handle saw double-digit increases while export handle was up over 22 percent above last year. Total purses and per race purses saw an overall increase of over 30 percent, while Running Aces conducted the highest total number of live races in the history of the track as well.

Huge crowds continued to be the theme throughout the season, especially large on Tuesdays and Saturday nights. Running Aces gained more overall exposure for its racing product through a stronger social media presence, as well as more comprehensive coverage of its racing through online and radio media, and the introduction of its product to TVG and TVG2 network audiences.

On the racetrack, Running Aces' equine and human star athletes shined bright with better racing than ever before, featuring blanket finishes and multi-horse photos in nearly every race. Four track records were re-written this summer, with Linkjack Hanover lowering the four-year-old stallion pacer mark to 1:54 with Rick Magee in the bike on June 19, Banker Volo trotting to an aged stallion track mark of 1:55.2 with Nick Roland and Majestic Lady Jo (Steve Wiseman) trotting to a new 1:56 mark for aged mares, both on July 9, and My Little Susie (also Steve Wiseman) trotting in 1:56.4 as the fastest three-year-old filly ever.

Banker Volo won the most races of the 2016 season by earning eight wins in his 11 starts here, while Bombshell Betty, The Winnin Dollar and Whatitdo Babyboo all had seven wins at the meet.

The 2016 leading driver award went to Nick Roland, who dominated the colony this season with 98 wins, 65 seconds and 66 thirds in his 442 races for a .353 UDR rating, while winning 22.2 percent of his races. This was the fourth leading driver title for Roland in the past five years, and he is the all-time leading driver and trainer in the history of the track.

The 2016 leading trainer award went to Steve Wiseman, who picked up his first Aces title this season with a very strong and talented stable. Wiseman had 51 of his trainees visit the winner’s circle this summer at Running Aces, with 49 seconds and 41 thirds to post a fantastic .400 UTRS average, also with a 22.2 percent winning clip.

Running Aces congratulates all of its horsemen and employees on a fantastic 2016 season, and thanks all of its fantastic racing fans, both locally and via our export signal, for helping to make 2016 the best season ever.

Keep up to date with all of the happenings at Running Aces during the off season by checking the website RunAces.com and follow the track on Facebook as well at Running Aces Casino & Racetrack.

Running Aces hopes to see its fans all back at the track for more great live harness racing next year.

(With files from Running Aces)