Sunny skies, big crowd mark Suffolk Downs opening day
by Steve Myrick
A robust crowd of 16,437 turned out under sunny skies for opening day at Suffolk Downs, the first since New York developer Richard Fields assumed a significant ownership position in the East Boston Track.
Fields has begun to make good on his promise to invest new money in the struggling race track, and that investment began to pay off as the track recorded $869,954 in on-track handle and $2.3-million in total handle for the day.
The opening day crowd, many drawn to the facility by newspaper and television advertising, found fresh paint, fresh flowers, and new optimism throughout the plant.
Fields was on hand for the opening, after spending a day and a half meeting and greeting horsemen, jockeys, and track workers.
“Everybody had has unbelievable passion and commitment to this track,” Fields said. “We’re sitting with people, and asking what works, and what doesn’t work. We’re going to figure out how to improve the product, how to improve the facility, and most importantly, how to get the message out, because there’s a great product here, and start driving in customers, not just on opening day and Kentucky Derby [Presented by Yum! Brands (G1)] day, but every day. It’s going to take a lot of money. But it’s not just money—you’ve got to come up with the right program.”
Jockey Tammi Piermarini celebrated the return of live racing with four victories on the day, including the $25,000 William Almy Purse aboard Blind River Fox, who is trained by Paul Thornton.
Steve Myrick is a Massachusetts-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
by Steve Myrick
A robust crowd of 16,437 turned out under sunny skies for opening day at Suffolk Downs, the first since New York developer Richard Fields assumed a significant ownership position in the East Boston Track.
Fields has begun to make good on his promise to invest new money in the struggling race track, and that investment began to pay off as the track recorded $869,954 in on-track handle and $2.3-million in total handle for the day.
The opening day crowd, many drawn to the facility by newspaper and television advertising, found fresh paint, fresh flowers, and new optimism throughout the plant.
Fields was on hand for the opening, after spending a day and a half meeting and greeting horsemen, jockeys, and track workers.
“Everybody had has unbelievable passion and commitment to this track,” Fields said. “We’re sitting with people, and asking what works, and what doesn’t work. We’re going to figure out how to improve the product, how to improve the facility, and most importantly, how to get the message out, because there’s a great product here, and start driving in customers, not just on opening day and Kentucky Derby [Presented by Yum! Brands (G1)] day, but every day. It’s going to take a lot of money. But it’s not just money—you’ve got to come up with the right program.”
Jockey Tammi Piermarini celebrated the return of live racing with four victories on the day, including the $25,000 William Almy Purse aboard Blind River Fox, who is trained by Paul Thornton.
Steve Myrick is a Massachusetts-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent
3 comments:
WOW! That's encouraging to hear. Keeping my fingers crossed that someone will do the same for Rockingham.
Ditto on that. It is very encouraging that there is still hope for Rockingham.
"Sufferin' Downs" might need a new nickname after this guy is finished with the place.
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