Regrettably, the Saturday night card at Running Aces Harness Park has been cancelled due to a budget impasse between the governor and state legislators
. The feud has lead to a state of Minnesota government shutdown which includes the Minnesota Racing Commission, which regulates the harness racing industry. The track had hoped that its petition of a judicially-appointed Special Master would result in a continuation of the self-sustaining MRC, which is wholly funded by licensing fees from the two racetracks in Minnesota plus its employees and participants.
A decision on the Sunday night program will be announced by 9:00 a.m. Sunday morning. A remote possibility exists, if a positive decision by the Special Master is forthcoming Saturday, that several of the Saturday night races could be added to the Sunday program.
Running Aces horsemen have graciously agreed to wait one week in hopes that racing can resume, but have indicated they will leave for other states if the state government doesn’t settle on a budget agreement by that deadline, or judicial relief isn’t forthcoming.
In the 150 year history of horse racing in America, this is the first time racing has been cancelled due to a government shutdown.
(Running Aces)