Masachusetts voters guide

[lamboguy]

this election is a referendum on expanding prohibitions on gambling


bottom line is this: if you are against casino's you vote YES, if you are in favor of casino's you vote NO.

the way this is asked, i believe that yes is a cinch. this has happened before in Massachusetts with the seat belt law. we have no law here. that is how this state works they try to fool you to get the result they want.

in my opinion the way this question is asked there is little chance that the casino law will live. this is the final say to this law.

Wynn getting the approval yesterday might be a very mute point. who ever wants a casino may have to go through the same long process that they have gone through over the last 4 years. it will cost them plenty of money to do it, without any guarantees.

[cj's dad]

Suffolk is closing if the casino is not approved. correct?

[menifee]

Suffolk is closing if the casino is not approved. correct?

Suffolk is closed now regardless. T-bred racing in New England is done.

The funny thing is that the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is the entity in MA that is designated to provide oversight of T-bred racing in MA and it completely killed the industry with their vote. Once Suffolk closes, there will be more regulators overseeing the industry than people actually working in the industry. Only MA could accomplish that feat.

It is hard not to be very upset by yesterday's vote, if you know the people that work at Suffolk Downs (as I do) and care about this sport (as I do).

However, the sad reality is that the industry needs massive consolidation and this is the market exercising its force. Anyone who has been to Suffolk could tell you that this was inevitable. Casino funds (or the hope for a casino funds) are just a bad medicine that makes the illness worse for the sport. The owners had not reinvested any money in the facility or the racing - they spent all their money lobbying for casinos.

If you want to see how this sport should be run go to Saratoga or Keeneland. No casino money - somehow the place is full, handle is high and the stars of the place are the horses. People at Suffolk still talk about Cigar running at the track and the attendance at those Mass Caps - they remember that. They remember Funny Cide vs. Oflee Wild. Listen to the youtube video and listen to the crowd. That was not piped in sound. If they had given their patrons less race dates, high quality racing, and reinvested in the facility, Suffolk would have succeeded. Instead, NE racing is dead.

[lamboguy]

Suffolk is closing if the casino is not approved. correct?they say they are.

on the other hand when they close, Brockton will open. the people that own Brokton know how to cater to customer's and run as good a race track as anyone around. i am not sure if Parx racing will have anything to do with that facility either.

[mabred]

This is good news easy to get to.

will bring back the good old days!!!

hope your info is solid .

Great news

mabred