The race office at Running Aces has processed 19 nominations for the 2024 Ron Banks Memorial Free-For-All Mares Pace, which will get underway with $17,500 USD elimination races on Sunday, June 23 and will culminate with the $35,000 USD final on Sunday, June 30.
Should all 19 nominees enter the box for the eliminations, there will be three elimination races with the top three finishers from each elimination returning for the final. Should 18 horses or less enter the box for the eliminations, there will be just two elimination races and the top four from each, as well as the fastest fifth-place finisher, shall advance to the final.
The list of nominees appears below in alphabetical order:
- Aint She Special
- Always A Dancer
- Always Choose Chip
- Better Double Flip
- Catch N Kill
- Crazy Cute
- Disaronno Hill
- Divine Art
- Fox Valley Leah
- Give Me This Dance
- Graceful Horizon
- Illusion Seelster
- La Rockin Shania
- Lady Angel
- Magical Maya A
- Majors Miracle
- Premier Delight
- Racin For Royalty
- Two Pistol Annie
The Ron Banks Memorial honours the memory of a prominent figure in harness racing in Minnesota and the region. In addition to being an owner, trainer, breeder and announcer in the sport, Banks served on the board for the Minnesota horsemen for many years and was one of the people that worked diligently to bring a pari-mutuel harness track to the state. His efforts, along with many others, eventually led to the opening of Running Aces in 2008. He was inducted into the Minnesota Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2018. Banks passed away in October 2020 at his home in Cannon Falls, Minn. at the age of 73.
(Running Aces)