I checked out the Suffolk Downs meet on Sunday, July 9, mostly for nostalgia purposes.  I went fairly often in the early 2000’s and saw Offlee Wild beat Funny Cide and Evening Attire in the 2004 Massachusetts Handicap.   I took a lot of pictures.   There’s been a lot of discussion about the track being sold to a redevelopment group, which appears now to be a done deal.  Suffolk Downs also lost out in the Massachusetts casino licensing race, which is what precipitated the sale.  The Boston Globe and others have done a pretty comprehensive job of covering that, so I’ll let you refer to those sources.

As a horseplayer, what I’ll say is “It’s a shame that it came to this.”  The track and turf are a nice facility, the infield is pretty with a variety of trees (the sugar maple stands out) and the footbridge.  I love the distinctive quarter poles with the big gold balls on top.  You’re a stones’ throw from the ocean.  The conjecture in the old days was that the track played to the outside paths and closers when the tide was high.  (I buy into this, by the way).  The facility is huge.  It hosted the Beatles, as well as Seabiscuit, Cigar, and Stymie, among others.    There are plenty of racing fans in Boston.  Plenty of gamblers, too.

Between the politicians, the management, and the horsemen, they blew it.  Should have been enough interest and resources here to make it work, particularly with Rockingham closing down, Suffolk should have become the center of racing in NewEngland, and found a spot on the calendar to make their big day(s) work.

Put out a quality product, fill those fields (especially on the turf !) and we will pump money through the windows.

I’ll play the bleeding-heart fan, and you’ll all tell me the courses aren’t suitable, but how did the Breeders’ Cup miss out on Boston, one of the best sports towns in America, if not the world.  Logan Airport is two minutes away, for shippers.

I’ve heard the Stronach group has shown interest in a New England site.   I hope that works out – and soon.  The Rock, Green Mountain, The Fair Circuit, have all gone away.

Someone else, and perhaps more eloquently will write the final eulogy.  George Woolf, Johnny Longden, Red Pollard, Eddie Arcaro, Ron Turcotte, Angel Cordero, Chris McCarron, Jean Cruget, Gary Stevens, and Jerry Bailey all won races here, as did Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, Laz Barrerra, Bill Mott and Nick Zito.  So did Whirlaway and Skip Away.  Oh yeah, the Beatles played Suffolk Downs.  Seems like this place should be more iconic than relic.

Now Suffolk Downs is finished.