A night at Running Aces Casino near Minneapolis

I was invited to check out Running Aces Casino and Racetrack this last weekend. I’m always looking for new things to do with a group of friends, so I brought Cole, my sister, and her boyfriend along with me!

Running Aces has found a sweet-spot that makes it not just a casino, but an experience. We had the traditional time at the casino, but added other activities throughout the night that were both inside and outside (Yay for not feeling trapped in a dark casino on a beautiful summer night!)

Here is how we spent our night at Running Aces casino near Minneapolis! Note: This night was sponsored by Running Aces Casino.

Take a peek at the racehorses

Before the races started, we got a tour of one of four horse barns on site. These tours aren’t open to the public, but if you call in advance of a race day, you might be able to get something lined up (especially if you have kids or it’s a special occasion!)

All the horses that race at Running Aces are standardbred horses, which is different than the thoroughbred horses that race at places like Canterbury. They are so friendly toward people and I was happy to hear that standardbred horses can still have a great life after racing.

Watch some horse racing

I’ve never watched harness racing before visiting Running Aces. Harness racing is much safer than traditional jockey racing, and we learned that anyone can be a driver because you’re being pulled. Maybe this is my next career path?? The harnesses behind the horses are called sulkees, and if you’re lucky enough, you can enter a drawing to win a sulkee ride in between races!

We even took a trip up to the announcer box to get a bird’s eye view of the race. Races take place every Saturday and Sunday (starts at 6 pm) and Tuesday (starts at 7 pm) and run about every 15 minutes.

Catch your own trout

When I learned I was able to catch my own trout for dinner, I HAD to try it! Here’s how it works: Visit the trout pond outside the casino to catch your fish. Mine only took a few seconds! Once you catch it, they give you a slip to give to your waiter once you’re ready to eat. That’s it! For around $20 you can catch and eat your own fish!

Eat dinner

Dinner was one of the most relaxing parts of our night. We got a table inside that overlooked the racetrack, and didn’t even have to move when we wanted to watch a race or place bets, as people were walking around ready to take them for us!

The food was also great. I would recommend the rainbow trout (obviously), Brussels sprouts, cheese bombs, buffalo chicken tots, and the salad bar! We loved watching the races while we ate – so if you want a table with a view, make a reservation online ahead of time – so worth it!

Special events

Running Aces Casino is always putting on fun events. When we visited, we tried a donut and cocktail tasting by Glamdoll Donuts and Norsemen Distillery. I ordered the key lime pie donut with a fruity drink made with chipotle gin. I love a good spicy drink! Cole ordered a chocolate donut with a coffee/white Russian-style drink which was a close second.

Gamble

I can’t talk about a night at the casino without mentioning gambling! We played some traditional blackjack for a while, but my favorite was the new Community Blackjack. This might be because I was somehow really good at it and won some money (It was only $50, but still, I never win anything!) Community Blackjack is a new experience at Running Aces where you can play 3 different hands – the same 3 hands others are able to play at the same time. Give it a try when you visit!

All in all, a big reason to why this was such a great night was because of Aaron and the rest of the super friendly staff at Running Aces Casino, and the fact that everything is all in one spot. If you’re usually the one who makes the plans in your friend group (like me) Running Aces Casino is a no brainer! For more info, check out their website here.