There are many byproducts of the COVID-19 pandemic that are affecting all walks of life, and harness racing has had no immunity to the disruptions of normal life.
Almost every racetrack in North America was shut down for the better part of three months, and harness tracks in particular fared worse in terms of shutdowns than other breeds. New health and safety protocols have been put in place at all tracks, and in most cases that has led to new limits on capacities, and distancing requirements of both horses and horsepeople on the backstretch at most tracks. Running Aces is no different, and when you factor in the idea that the north-metro Minnesota track already had an under-abundance of stall space to meet yearly demand and interest of trainers seeking to race at the track, the COVID-19 challenges of 2020 was making it tougher than ever to meet that demand for stalls at the raceway.
Many trainers have found a solution in a quaint little town about 80 miles away from Running Aces and across the Wisconsin border where you can find a great half-mile fair track at the Barron County Fairgrounds. The fairgrounds are located in the town of Rice Lake, which has a population of roughly 9,000 and a rich history in harness racing that dates back to the 1800s. In fact, the main racehorse barn was built late in that century, and is currently listed as the oldest standing building in Barron County. And while that historic barn and the fairgrounds have played host to many famed Wisconsin harness racing stables, it has not been as busy as it has been this summer since the very early 2000s. Many of the locals in Rice Lake enjoy walking on the fairgrounds property and love to see all of the racehorses on the track and on the grounds, and many have expressed their delight in seeing so much activity at the barns this summer.
Bordogna, pictured setting a new trotting state and track record (1:59.1) at Rice Lake on June 6, 2020 when the Wisconsin track hosted a Minnesota early race meet.
The operation of the racetrack and barns at Rice Lake is looked after by Patty Strand, along with Dave Hofacker and Kenny Kolzow. They also operate the harness racing meet during the Barron County Fair which typically runs for five days in mid-July, but will not take place this year due to the pandemic. Strand is also in her second year as executive secretary of MHRI, which is the organization that represents harness horsepeople in Minnesota.
Despite the cancellation of the 2020 fair, Strand and her colleagues at Rice Lake were able to bring some official harness racing action to their highly-praised track surface when they hosted the Minnesota early race meets over two weekends from May 30 to June 6. The dashes helped Minnesota-bred and -based trotters and pacers, as well as some Wisconsin hopefuls and others, to get ready for the Running Aces meet. It was a successful undertaking, and the card on Saturday, June 6 saw a new trotting track and state record set when four-year-old trotting horse Bordogna (who was driven by Rick Magee) glided across the racetrack with a 1:59.1 victory for owners Cathy Dessert of Minnesota and Badger State native Ken Stauffer. Bordogna also holds a track record at Running Aces, and the Rice Lake track also has the state pacing record of 1:56.3, which was set on July 20, 2017 by another Running Aces star, PV Miracle Mary (Rick Magee). PV Miracle Mary is owned by Joe Casagranda, of Michigan. PV Miracle Mary was four at the time of his record mile.
This season, there are 70 racehorses that are making their homes at Rice Lake, from about nine or ten different trainers. The roster includes Quentin and Kimberley Schneider, Richard Schneider, Melinda Smith and Darryl and Jacob Cutting, Chris Scicluna and Pat Berry, Jenna Cornelison, Greig Watson, Chris Frenzel and Amy Wetzel, Gary and Michael Magee and Tony Succarotte.
Most of the 70 Standardbreds stabled at Rice Lake this summer will be racing at Running Aces. The Standardbreds will make the 80-mile trip on race days, which many would say can be a tedious routine when you factor in the idea that you have to be checked into the grounds at Running Aces by 8:00 a.m. to race. Although, the overwhelming sentiment this summer is that the advantages and amenities at Rice Lake far outweigh any disadvantages of the one hour and 40 minute commute to the track. Horses at Rice Lake get to enjoy lots of wide open space, with turnouts, paddocks and plenty of green grass, and the track surface has always been considered top notch.
When you visit Rice Lake for the fair on any given year, you can always feel the excitement in the air for harness racing. While the pandemic may have taken away the fair this year, nothing can take away the excitement for harness racing -- certainly not this year, and certainly not at the little track. Rice Lake has teamed with Running Aces hopefuls and harness racing is alive and strong at the historic Barron County Fairgrounds.
(Running Aces)