Quote Of The Day: Suffolk's Zero Tolerance Policy Enforced

We hoped we wouldn’t have to take action on this policy, but in the last two weeks, it came to our attention that two horses from Suffolk Downs wound up at an auction. The owner who transported them is no longer welcome at our facility.”

Chip Tuttle, chief operating officer at Suffolk Downs said the track purchased the two horses from the auction and donated them to the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation. Tuttle stressed that the incident was a rare exception to the prevailing attitude of local horsemen. He cited the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association leadership’s strong support of the zero-tolerance policy. Trainer Nick Zito cited his support for the policy as a factor in entering Commentator in the Massachusetts Handicap on Saturday.

Suffolk Downs - The Mass Cap

The post-position draw for the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap will take place at 11:30 a.m. EDT today. The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series with the winner of the 66th edition of the race securing a spot in the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 25 at Santa Anita Park. The Massachusetts Handicap will take place on Saturday.

Quote Of The Day: Nick Zito

“I like what Richard Fields does for horses. The owners of Suffolk Downs are humanitarians and are doing what they can to rescue horses, and I believe strongly in what they are trying to accomplish.”

Trainer Nick Zito said the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs could be the next stop for Commentator, the amazing 7-year-old gelding who dominated Saturday's Grade 1 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. The Massachusetts Handicap, once one of the most prestigious handicap races in the country, offers a purse of $500,000 and will be run on Sept. 20.

Suffolk Downs Begins Zero-Tolerance Horse Slaughter Policy

SAM ELLIOTT
Chip Bott photo
by Steve Myrick

Suffolk Downs has established a new policy holding trainers accountable when their horses are sold for slaughter.

Sam Elliott, the track’s vice president for racing, has informed the leadership of the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association that any trainer found to have sold a horse for slaughter will have his stalls revoked and be denied stalls at any time in the future....

Click here.

Way To Go, Suffolk Downs!

Suffolk Downs will boost the purse of the Massachusetts Handicap if Horse of the Year Curlin and dual classic winner Big Brown both start in the race, officials with the East Boston track announced on Thursday.
The purse, originally slated at $500,000, would climb to $5-million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both horses remain undefeated in 2008. The $5-million would include a $1-million participation bonus for each horse.... Read Story

Suffolk Downs

The East Boston track posted double-digit increases in attendance
and mutuel handle during a 100-day live meet that concluded on Saturday.
Daily average on-track attendance was 3,288, a 22.4% increased compared
with last year’s 2,687 figure. Average daily on-track mutuel handle
was $122,702, a 14.3% increase compared with 2006, when that
figure was $107,385.
Total purses increased 12% from $10.9-million in 2006 to $12.2 million.
“We are encouraged by the increases in attendance and handle, as
they reflect a reversal of recent trends,” said Richard Fields, who
purchased a significant interest in Suffolk Downs shortly before the
meet began last spring. “We made a number of improvements this
year to enhance the overall customer experience, and it has made a
difference. We are already moving forward with additional improvements
for next year.”
The meet opened with a record-setting day,
as 17,549 fans came to the track on Kentucky
Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) day
on May 5 and wagered a track-record $2.37-
million. The attendance was the largest opening-
day crowd since 1992.
An on-track crowd of 19,191
was at Suffolk to see Brass
Hat (Prized) win the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap
on September 22. The race was not run the previous
two years because of cost concerns.
Jockey Tammi Piermarini led all riders with 100
wins. John Rigattieri saddled 64 winners to win his
fourth-consecutive Suffolk training title.
Aurora Springs Stable was the leading owner with
38 wins.

Quote of the Day

“Today’s historic return of the MassCap marks a new chapter
for Thoroughbred racing at Suffolk Downs. The MassCap signals
our intention to continue bringing both existing and new
fans to enjoy a world-class entertainment experience in Thoroughbred
racing.”
Suffolk Downs owner Richard Fields on Saturday after Brass
Hat won the $500,000 Massachusetts Handicap, which had not
been run since 2004 due to economic reasons. Before canceling the
track’s signature race last year, track officials revealed plans to
move the race from its traditional mid-summer date to late September,
where it would be positioned as a prep race for the Breeders’
Cup World Championships

Today's Racing

Grasshopper makes his first start since finishing a game second to Street Sense in todays Super Derby at Louisianna Downs.

Any Given Saturday will run in the Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park.

Evening Attire, Brass Hat, and Fairbanks head up today's Mass Cap. It's a good day for live racing at Suffolk Downs, complimented with some great races being simulcasted. Get out there!

The Mass Cap is back!

The Mass Cap will be run for the first time in three years on Saturday. Headlining the field will be Brass Hat, Evening Attire and Fairbanks. Due to not running for two consecutive years, the Mass Cap has lost it's Graded status, but that doesn't seem to be stopping quality horses from showing up. Article below:

Daily Racing Form: News

Yes It's Timmy

Little Timmy is all grown up and won a MSW at Suffolk Downs. Sheryl just sent me the picture. Congratulations are in order for her and her staff for making Timmy a good racehorse! I hope to get a few more of these win pictures in the future!

Bad News For Suffolk

Have you guys heard about this?

Mass town votes to approve large Indian casino near Suffolk Downs - Thoroughbred Times

Retired jockey, Jerry Bailey, will be at Suffolk Downs on Saturday for a question and answer session with fans starting at 11:30AM. He will then sign autographs for 1 hour, starting at 12:15. All paid guests will receive a photo of Bailey and the first 2500 will receive a Suffolk Downs beach towel.

Saturday's festivities will also include the opening of a new trackside picinic area, pony rides, face painting, and other activities. Sounds like a great family outing destination!

Welcome Back Mass Cap!

Suffolk officials planning to bring back MassCap
by Steve Myrick
Suffolk Downs executives are trying to revive the Massachusetts Handicap and could announce their plans in the near future.
Shortly after developer Richard Fields acquired the largest ownership interest in Suffolk Downs, he signaled that he wanted to bring the MassCap back. The track’s signature race was cancelled three out of the past four years as the track struggled to pay purses for its standard overnight schedule.
Fields confirmed in a statement that the MassCap is part of his plan.
“Bringing back the historic MassCap is just one component of our extensive plan, just one of the steps we are taking to rejuvenate racing in Boston,” Fields said.
Details, including the date of the race and the purse money to be offered, still are being reviewed. Because it has not been staged for two consecutive years, the American Graded Stakes Committee declared the race ineligible for grading in 2007. It was a Grade 2 event when last run in 2004.
Before canceling the race in 2006, track officials announced a purse of $300,000 and revealed plans to move the race from its traditional mid-summer date to late September, where it would be positioned as a prep race for the Breeders’ Cup.
Steve Myrick is a Massachusetts-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent

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

Do you think that Richard Fields sees legislation for slots passing in Massachusetts as his main reason for purchasing interest in Suffolk Downs? I certainly hope so.


Fields completes deal to acquire ownership interest in Suffolk Downs
by Steve Myrick
New York businessman Richard Fields has completed a deal to acquire a significant ownership interest in Suffolk Downs and affirmed plans to revitalize the East Boston Thoroughbred track.
“I am excited about my investment in Suffolk Downs and about the future of this historic venue,” Fields said in a news release. “Over the next few months, our team will be pursuing a master plan that allows us to integrate the horseracing that has long defined Suffolk Downs with a world-class facility for everyone who visits our site. I am excited about bringing our experience and passion for the sport to racing at Suffolk Downs.”
Coastal Development Massachusetts, the development company formed by Fields, will be the largest shareholder in Suffolk Downs, but will not control a majority interest in the track. The other primary investors are Massachusetts businessmen John Hall and Joseph O’Donnell as well as Vornado Real Estate, a New York-based real estate trust.
"Richard Fields's investment in Suffolk Downs is a positive development for horseracing in Massachusetts," Suffolk Downs President John Hall said. "He is an avid horseman who brings extraordinary enthusiasm for racing as well as considerable expertise in gaming and development."
While there are no specific project commitments in the announcement, Fields will look into new retail businesses, restaurants, live entertainment, family activities, and other high-end resort amenities, according to the news release.
Fields is a principal in Excelsior Racing Associations, the group given the initial nod by New York’s Ad-hoc Committee on Racing to take over racing at Saratoga Racecourse, Belmont Park, and Aqueduct Racecourse. New York Racing Association, Excelsior Racing, Empire Racing Associates, and Capital Play Pty. Ltd. remain as parties interested in the New York racing franchise. An ad hoc committee on the future of New York Racing selected Excelsior as the top bid, but Governor Eliot Spitzer began a new selection process for the franchise when NYRA’s franchise expires December 31.
Fields has close ties to the Johnston family, investors in several harness tracks and off-track betting facilities in Illinois.
Fields is the developer behind two successful casino projects, the Seminole Hard Rock Resort and Casino with locations in Tampa, and Hollywood, Florida.