Suffolk Downs

Suffolk Downs is a former Thoroughbred race track in East Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The track opened in 1935 after being built by Joseph A. Tomasello for a cost of $2 million.[2] It was sold in May 2017 to a developer who plans to create housing and a shopping district. The final day of live racing at the track was June 30, 2019,[1] with the facility hosting simulcast race wagering thereafter.[3] The only remaining live horse racing in Massachusetts is at Plainridge Park Casino, which has harness racing.[4]

For other uses, see Suffolk Downs (disambiguation).
Suffolk Downs
View of the racetrack from Orient Heights.
Location525 McClellan Highway
East Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Coordinates42.39°N 71.01°W / 42.39; -71.01
Owned byEastern Racing Association (first)
Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC (last)
Date openedJuly 10, 1935 (July 10, 1935) (original)
January 1, 1992 (January 1, 1992) (reopening)
Date closedDecember 30, 1989 (December 30, 1989) (original)
June 30, 2019 (June 30, 2019)[1](reopening)
Race typeThoroughbred
Course typeFlat
Notable racesMassachusetts Handicap
Official website

A number of famous horses raced at Suffolk Downs, including Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Funny Cide, and Cigar. The Massachusetts Handicap (or MassCap) was the track's most significant annual event, last held in 2008. The track is a 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval with a seven-furlong inner turf track. Non-race functions at the venue included the Hot Dog Safari. The track provides the name of the nearby MBTA Suffolk Downs subway station.

History

Opening

After parimutuel betting was legalized in Massachusetts, the Eastern Racing Association, Inc. was formed to open a thoroughbred race track in East Boston. Businessman, politician, and former steeplechase jockey Bayard Tuckerman, Jr. was the corporation's first president. Harness racing promoter Allan J. Wilson was named vice president. Walter E. O'Hara, promoter of the Narragansett Park was named managing director of the track, however he backed out after a few months because he felt East Boston was not a suitable site for a race track and instead wanted to build a track in Framingham or Natick. Richard Danielson, Charles Adams, Bruce Wetmore, and John R. Macomber were also members of the track's first board of directors.[5][6]

Eastern Racing Association applied for a track charter and license on January 11, 1935 and on April 9, the Massachusetts Racing Commission granted the corporation a license to race in East Boston.[5][7] Construction did not begin until April 29 due to legal entanglements.[8]

The track opened on July 10, 1935. The first card consisted of eight races, with the Commonwealth Stakes, a six-furlong race for 3-year-olds, serving as the feature race. The Commonwealth Stakes featured twenty-two horses from eighteen stables, including horses owned by Edward R. Bradley, Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt Jr., and Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney.[9] The race was won by Bradley's Boxthorn, which had been a starter in that year's Kentucky Derby. 35,000 spectators watched the first day of racing.[10] Later that month, Seabiscuit would make his Suffolk Downs debut, finishing fourth in the Mayflower Stakes.[11]

The first MassCap was held on October 16, 1935 with Top Row taking first ever victory in the event.[11]

Early years

On May 7, 1936, Tuckerman stepped down as president. He was succeeded by Charles Adams.[12] Adams himself would step aside in favor of James H. Connors in December 1937.[13] Although Adams stated that he decided to give up the position to focus on his other interests, he would later say that Connors was elected at the behest of Governor Charles F. Hurley.[14] In 1939, Connors resigned as Suffolk Downs president amid allegations that he, his brother-in-law (State Racing Commissioner Thomas R. Foley), and Outdoor Amusements, Inc. (a company applying for a license to open a track in Westport, Massachusetts) attempted to gain control of horse racing in eastern Massachusetts. According to the Eastern Racing Association, Foley secretly worked to acquire a license for Outdoor Amusements, Inc. while Connors demanded that his fellow Eastern Racing Association shareholders sell him their stake in Suffolk Downs or they would not get any favorable racing dates.[15] The racing commission voted to revoke Outdoor Amusements' license due to misleading information in their application, but found that there was not enough evidence to establish a conspiracy between Outdoor Amusements, Connors, and Foley.[16]

Seabiscuit and trainer Tom Smith

On June 29, 1936, Seabiscuit won an allowance race at Suffolk Downs. This was the first time trainer Tom Smith saw Seabiscuit race and he would later recommend that Charles S. Howard purchase the horse.[17] Smith and Howard would go on to make Seabiscuit a national hero. Seabiscuit would return to the track in 1937 to race in the Massachusetts Handicap. The race was attended by 40,000 people. Seabiscuit won the race in 1:49, which broke the track record for 1 1/8 miles. The victory was Seabiscuit's seventh consecutive win, a career high. The winner's purse of $51,780 was the largest of Seabiscuit's career up to that point and would only be surpassed by his final victory, the 1940 Santa Anita Handicap. In 1938, 60,000 people turned out to watch Seabiscuit defend his MassCap title against War Admiral. However, Seabiscuit was scratched due to an injury minutes before post time. The race was won by Menow. War Admiral finished fourth, breaking his streak of eleven-consecutive victories and marking the only time in his career that he would finish out of the money.[18]

On July 15, 1942, Whirlaway succeeded Seabiscuit as the all-time leading money-earner by winning the MassCap.[18]

During World War II, the track continued to hold races. On August 8, 1942 Suffolk Downs donated $625,000 to the National War Fund. This contribution was the single largest donation to the war effort by any sports venue.[11]

On February 20, 1944, the Aldred Investment Trust purchased a majority of the voting stock in the Eastern Racing Association. Gordon B. Hanlon was elected president of Suffolk Downs.[19][20] Three months later the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it had filed a complaint in federal court accusing Hanlon his fellow directors of the Aldred Investment Trust of gross abuse of the trust, including drastically changing the investment policy of the trust without giving adequate notice to security holders by purchasing stock in the Eastern Racing Association.[21] On January 19, 1945, Judge George Clinton Sweeney found Hanlon and five other Aldred officials guilty of gross abuse of the trust and control of the track was given to the trust's receivers, Edward O. Proctor and Edward F. Goode.[22] On April 24, 1945, the receivers selected Allan J. Wilson to succeed Hanlon as track president.[23]

Post-war

On May 1, 1946, a group led by Boston importer John C. Pappas acquired control of Suffolk Downs at a Federal Court-directed public auction. Pappas' $3.6 million bid exceeded offers made by Joseph F. Timilty, Henry Simberg (represented at the auction by Paul A. Dever), and Bay Meadows Racetrack general manager Bill Kyne.[24]

On July 30, 1947, Stymie became the first horse to eclipse the $700,000 career earnings mark by winning the MassCap.[11] From 1959 to 1970, Suffolk Downs hosted harness racing during the fall.[18] On August 18, 1966, The Beatles played a concert before 24,000 fans on the track's infield.[25] On June 19, 1968, Dancer's Image made his final public appearance. He was escorted onto the track by his owner Peter Fuller, son of former Massachusetts Governor Alvan T. Fuller, and his wife Jane.[11]

The track was acquired by Realty Equities Corp. On January 6, 1969, former baseball team owner Bill Veeck became president. During Veeck's tenure as president, Suffolk Downs hosted a number of promotions including chariot races, livestock giveaways and mock Indian battles. Veeck also won a number of legal victories, including one which allowed children to attend the races.[18]

Suffolk Downs MBTA station, which was rebuilt in 1984 and 1995.

In 1971 Realty Equities sold Suffolk Downs to National Raceways Inc., a subsidiary of the National Mattress Company.[26] A year later the track was sold to Ogden Corporation.[18]

On February 14, 1976, the inbound platform of the Suffolk Downs MBTA station was destroyed by fire, which hurt track attendance. The outbound side of the station remained open[27] The station was rebuilt in 1983 and reopened in January 1984 after the project received a $1.9 million grant from the Urban Mass Transportation Administration.[11] The station was rebuilt again from 1994-95 as part of a larger improvement project on the line.[27]

On May 21, 1983, Preakness Day, Suffolk Downs aired its first simulcast race after the Massachusetts General Court passed last-minute bill that allowed the track to air and accept bets on races from other tracks. Suffolk Downs handled $161,456 in simulcast bets that day.[11][18]

First closure

In 1986, Odgen Corporation sold the track to Belle Isle Ltd., led by Buddy LeRoux. In 1987, LeRoux threatened to close Suffolk Downs unless the state granted financial concessions to the track. In January 1988, the state Legislature gave LeRoux the concessions he asked for, which allowed racing to continue through the 1989 season. LeRoux made it known that he would allow the track's license to expire after the concessions expired, under the premise that racing was no longer profitable. The track closed after racing on December 30, 1989. Races were scheduled for the next day, however, track management canceled them out of fears of vandalism. Between 1990 and 1991, there was no racing at Suffolk Downs.[11][18]

Reopening
Horses racing in front of the results board in the track infield
Starting gate at a race in 2004

In May 1991, Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC., headed by James B. Moseley and John L. Hall II, leased the track from Belle Isle for $8.5 million. The group spent seven months upgrading and remodeling the track. On January 1, 1992 racing resumed at Suffolk Downs in front of a crowd of 15,212. The track underwent further renovations in 1993, including a new AmTote Spectrum 2000 mutuel system, a newly constructed Clubhouse video lounge, a tribute to MassCap winners in the Grandstand, and a new racing strip. In 1995, the track saw the opening of a redesigned Legends Bar & Grill, improvements to the lighting, upgrades to the backstretch and racetrack, and a remodeled paddock and winner's circle. Also that year, the MassCap returned from a six-year hiatus. Cigar won the race. It was his eighth consecutive victory in his Horse of the Year season. Cigar won the race the following year to earn his 15th consecutive win. The race was attended by 22,000 spectators.[11][18]

On May 31, 1997 Suffolk Downs hosted New England's first million racing day, with six stakes races including the MassCap.[18]

On July 7, 1997, Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC purchased the track from Bell Isle.[28]

On April 9, 1998, James B. Moseley, Suffolk Downs' Chairman of the Board and the man credited with reopening the track, died at the age of 66.[29] He was succeeded on the board by his wife Patricia.

On June 8, 1998, Suffolk Downs hosted Eddie Andelman's Hot Dog Safari to benefit the Joey Fund/Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event was attended by 35,000 people.[18]

On June 19, 1999, Suffolk Downs held its first concert in decades when it hosted the Guinness Fleadh music festival. Thirty acts performed during twelve-hour festival, including Elvis Costello, Hootie and the Blowfish, and John Lee Hooker.[30] Van Morrison was scheduled to appear but cancelled citing "exhaustion".[31]

Change in ownership and casino bid
Starting gate at the 2007 Massachusetts Handicap

On March 30, 2007, Coastal Development LLC, a New York-based real estate development company headed by Richard Fields, purchased a majority stake in Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC by buying the shares of Patricia Moseley and a number of smaller shareholders.[32] Fields purchased the track with the intent to turn it into a Racino. After casino gambling was legalized in Massachusetts in 2011, the track made a bid for a casino license. The track's owners partnered with Caesars Entertainment Corporation on a plan to build a $1 billion resort casino on the site. In October 2013, Suffolk Downs and Caesars terminated their partnership after the Massachusetts Gaming Commission raised concerns over Caesars' financial state and a business relationship with company allegedly connected to Russian mobsters.[33]

Second closure

On November 5, 2013, East Boston voters rejected Suffolk Downs' casino proposal with 4,281 votes to 3,353. The track partnered with Mohegan Sun on a project entirely located in Revere, Massachusetts, where Suffolk Downs has 53 acres of property. Suffolk Downs competed with Wynn Resorts plan for a resort in Everett, Massachusetts, that was approved by voters in June, opening in 2019 as the Encore Boston Harbor.[34][35] Following the approval of Wynn's proposal in September 2014, it was announced that Suffolk Downs would close.[36]

Limited live racing returned in 2015 and on June 9, 2016, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved funding for the track to run on 6 days in 2016. The track was open on July 9–10, August 6–7 and September 3–4.[37] In March 2017, the track's owners agreed to sell it to HYM Investment Group, a Boston real estate developer. The owners at the time stated that they were going to lease back the track and operate live racing in 2017 and 2018, and hoped to continue operating as a simulcast facility after the redevelopment of the property.[38] In October 2017, Suffolk Sterling Racecourse announced that plans were underway to open up a new full-time racetrack in Massachusetts to replace Suffolk Downs.[39]

The final season of live racing was May 18–19, June 8–9, and June 29–30, 2019. The last horse to cross the finish line in the final live race at Suffolk Downs was Colonial Front on June 30, 2019.[1] The facility remains open for simulcasting year-round.

Redevelopment

In May 2017, Suffolk Downs was sold to HYM Investment Group for $155 million to be used as developments. The track will be turned into a housing and shopping district similar to the Boston Landing and Assembly Square developments in the Greater Boston area.[40] On October 20, 2017, it was revealed that Suffolk Downs would be used in a bid to bring Amazon's second headquarters to Massachusetts.[41] In 2018, it was revealed that the Suffolk Downs development would move forward despite Amazon opting to move its second headquarters to Virginia and New York City.

Also, in September 2019, a proposed innovation center has been proposed to be built on the Beachmont, Revere side of the site.

Administration

Owners
  • Eastern Racing Association: January 11, 1935 – January 6, 1969
  • Realty Equities Corp.: January 6, 1969 – February 23, 1971
  • National Raceways Inc.: February 23, 1971 – February 24, 1972
  • Ogden Suffolk Downs, Inc. February 24, 1972 – April 17, 1986
  • Belle Isle Limited Partnership: April 17, 1986 – July 7, 1997
    • leased to Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC: May 1991–July 7, 1997
  • Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC: July 7, 1997–May, 2017

Presidents
Bill Veeck (right), president of Suffolk Downs from 1968 to 1971
  • Bayard Tuckerman, Jr.: January 11, 1935 – May 7, 1936
  • Charles F. Adams: May 7, 1936 – December 15, 1937
  • James H. Connors: December 15, 1937 – January 1, 1939
  • Charles F. Adams: January 1, 1939 – February 20, 1944
  • Gordon B. Hanlon: February 20, 1944 – April 24, 1945
  • Allan J. Wilson: April 24, 1945 – April 17, 1948
  • John C. Pappas: April 17, 1948 – 1965
  • David Haber: 1965–November 20, 1968
  • Bill Veeck: November 20, 1968 – February 23, 1971
  • James F. Edwards: February 23, 1971 – February 24, 1972
  • William F. Connell: February 24, 1972 – September 15, 1972
  • Joseph E. Cresci: September 15, 1972 – 1975
  • John MacAniff: 1975–June 26, 1986
  • Al Curran: June 26, 1986 – April 6, 1991
  • John L. Hall: April 6, 1991 – 2017

References
  1. Kelly, Nick (July 1, 2019). "The memories will last long after the final lap at Suffolk Downs". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  2. http://athena.uky.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?c=drf1930s;cc=drf1930s;rgn=full%20text;idno=drf1939053001;didno=drf1939053001;view=pdf;seq=9_2;node=drf1939053001%3A9.2
  3. Bello, Mike (June 28, 2019). "An ode to Suffolk Downs, and the grandfather who taught me all about horse racing there". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  4. "Horse Racing". Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  5. "Plan Race Track in East Boston". The Boston Daily Globe. January 12, 1935.
  6. Hurwitz, Hy (March 16, 1935). "O'Hara Severs Connections with Suffolk Downs Track". The Boston Daily Globe.
  7. "East Boston Track Licensed". The Boston Daily Globe. April 10, 1935.
  8. "Work Formally' Begun on East Boston Race on Track But Actual Construction Starts Tomorrow". The Boston Daily Globe. April 28, 1935.
  9. The Associated Press (July 10, 1935). "New Suffolk Downs Track Will Open Today At Boston, With 22 Nominated for Feature". The New York Times.
  10. The Associated Press (July 11, 1935). "35,000 at Suffolk Downs as Racing Returns to Boston After 25-Year Lapse". New York Times.
  11. Temple, Robert (2009). The Pilgrims Would Be Shocked: The History of Thoroughbred Racing in New England. Robert Temple. ISBN 978-1-4415-1428-8.
  12. "C. F. Adams President of Eastern Racing Body". The Boston Daily Globe. May 8, 1936.
  13. "Connors President of Suffolk Downs". The Boston Daily Globe. December 16, 1937.
  14. "Adams Claims Connors Back of New Track". The Boston Daily Globe. February 7, 1939.
  15. Harris, John G. (February 4, 1939). "Plot to Rule Racing Charged". The Boston Daily Globe.
  16. "Westport Racing Out; Fight Likely". The Boston Daily Globe. February 24, 1939.
  17. Hillenbrand, Laura (2001), "Seabiscuit: An American Legend."
  18. "History of Suffolk Downs" (PDF). Suffolk Downs Media Guide. Suffolk Downs. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  19. The Associated Press (February 20, 1944). "G.B. Hanlon New Head of Suffolk Downs As He and Associates Buy Large Interest". New York Times.
  20. Welch, Eddie (February 20, 1944). "Gordon Hanlon Heads Suffolk Downs Board". The Boston Daily Globe.
  21. "SEC Accuses Aldred Trustees In Suffolk Race Track Purchase". The New York Times. May 20, 1944.
  22. "Trust Aides Held Guilty of Abuses". The New York Times. January 20, 1945.
  23. Welch, Eddie (April 25, 1945). "Allan Wilson Named Suffolk President". The Boston Daily Globe.
  24. "$3,600,000 Bid Buys Suffolk Control". The Boston Daily Globe. May 2, 1946.
  25. Moskowitz, Eric (2007-08-18). "Delp's Bandmates, Friends Unite in Tribute and in Sadness". The Boston Globe.
  26. "National Raceways Agrees to Buy Track For Over $10 Million". The Wall Street Journal. February 24, 1971.
  27. Belcher, Jonathan (27 June 2015). "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district 1964-2015" (PDF). NETransit. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  28. Wolfson, Bernard J. (July 8, 1997). "LeRoux sells Suffolk Downs". Boston Herald.
  29. "James B. Moseley, 66 Suffolk Downs Board Chairman". The Boston Globe. April 14, 1998.
  30. McLennan, Scott (June 13, 1999). "Irish hitmakers fill the bill at a modern-day fleadh". Telegram & Gazette.
  31. Sullivan, Jim (June 21, 1999). "Even sans Van, Fleadh was great fun". The Boston Globe. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  32. Palmer, Jr., Thomas C. (April 3, 2007). "Casino developer buys big Suffolk Downs stake". The Boston Globe.
  33. Kamp, Jon (October 21, 2013). "Storied Boston Track Bets on 'Racino'; Suffolk Downs Suggests It Won't Survive Without State Casino License". The Wall Street Journal.
  34. Arsenault, Mark (November 27, 2013). "Mohegan Sun, Suffolk Downs join in Revere". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  35. Arsenault, Mark (November 5, 2013). "Suffolk Downs defeated in E. Boston; will explore Revere-only project". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  36. Morrison, Sara (16 September 2014). "Suffolk Downs To Close Following Casino Vote". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  37. "Suffolk Downs to receive $2.4 million to host summer races - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2016-06-12.
  38. Hegarty, Matt (March 22, 2017). "Suffolk Downs sold to development firm; racing to continue through 2018". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 2017-03-27.
  39. Lynne Snierson (October 31, 2017). "Suffolk Operator, Horsemen Agree to Launch New Track". Bloodhorse. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
  40. John Lynds (October 6, 2017). "What's Next? Tom O'Brien Makes the Rounds,Talks Suffolk Downs Development". East Boston Times-Free Press. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  41. Carlock, Catherine (October 20, 2017). "Walsh confirms Suffolk Downs is 'primary focus' in Boston's Amazon HQ2 bid". Retrieved October 20, 2017.

40. Curbed Boston: Suffolk Downs developer: Big first phase poised to start near Beachmont T stop

41.Sue Woodcock (September 9, 2019). Revere Journal: Suffolk Downs Talks Continue. Retrieved Friday, February 7, 2020

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