No surprise - Suffolk Downs is finally kaput after 2018
 

Track has been put up for sale, but will race a select number of dates in 2017 and 2018.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...racetrack-sale

the reason why they want to retain the license is because they make the source marketing fee for massachusetts. in other words they are basically getting a handout and don't deserve the money. if i was the head of the gaming commission i wouldn't give them the racing license for the 6 days that they want so that they can collect. the people that ran the track after Moseby died had no clue what they were doing. ultimately when it came decision time for the slots and casino, they tried to fool the commission and it didn't even come close to working. the place was a natural for the casino license and they blew it.

why reward them now, get them the hell out of there already and let someone else figure a deal out somewhere else.

this is the last track to completely go in New England, a place that always supported horse racing in spades. now dead and gone.

Too many thoughts to corral at the moment. Part sad, part glad.

For now I'll just remember those RARE days when I lived on the Eastie/Winthrop line, and if it was SUPER quiet outside I could hear the racecalls from my back porch.

Where will Monmouth Park get their purse monies from? You know those $1000 fines for shipping into Suffolk that added up to about $60k, that could fuel 6 $10k nickel claimers on a hot Friday in July..............:eek:

They will fine the owners and trainers who shop at the Walmart they build in its place.

Isn't Rockingham Park now gone for good too?

racing hasn't happened there for years and the final land sell-off was consummated a few months ago.

I totally agree, but of course I am very biased. ;)

The property is going to be completely redeveloped with the race track gone because it is worth a ton of more money that way. Suffolk wants to have their cake and eat it too. While some folks will put it down, Brockton wants to run and can provide a significant number of days (perhaps 30-60) IF they can get secure enough funds for OPERATING costs. They need to "own" the MA simulcasting (instead of Suffolk) in order to run their meet, and they certainly deserve it much more than Suffolk because they want to provide thoroughbred racing in the future in MA and Suffolk does not. Brockton may not be the long-term solution, but it can certainly be the near-term solution for several years. If Brockton were able to secure adequate operating costs, I suspect with the work already done last year, they could put on a meet this year.

Phil, what is the latest out of the Carney family given this most-recent news on Suffolk?

i don't have to call them to know what they are going to say. they aren't opening up Brockton without getting the source marketing fees. if the shirts do the right thing and tell the circus man to take a hike then Brockton will open.

i have a hunch that Wynn isn't going to build a casino in Everett. he probably is mad at the circus man for blowing a wrapped up deal to get NYRA and went this far to make sure he didn't get the casino license in East Boston.

Better than Nothing
 

FWIW, I have attended 3 cards over the last two years and have had a blast each time. It's live horse racing! And the racing and the purses have been pretty good. They have a bunch of food trucks on the apron so you know it's better food than 90% of track food most other places. This place was dead. Now I know I can enjoy a good day at the track within driving distance (no need to get a room) at least a few more times.

If that is what it would take, then obviously there must be some type of on-going organized effort by the Carneys / Mass. Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association / Others to bring that about, correct? And if so, is it the Gaming Commission, or some other legislative body who has the power to make that decision regarding ownership of the Source Marketing Fee?

Another sign that racing is slowly coming to a close.

Racing in New England has been circling the bowl for years..
The region simply will not support it.
So why bother presenting a product to a marketplace that is disinterested?