Brockton Fair 2016

[Track Collector]

Racing is set to return to a MA fair!

Link

The last time was at the Northampton fair in 2005.

Brockton last raced in 2001, and before that in 1972.

I love these 1/2-mile tracks, and with a possible 30 days of racing, my vehicle will be making a lot of 400+ mile one-way trips to the Boston suburb.

I'm hoping that our guy Phil (lamboguy), who knows the Carney's, can get some more detailed info. Among other things, I'm curious about:
-- Possible dates for racing (perhaps some during the actual fair in early July)?
-- Will there be simulcasting on race days?
-- Will there be simulcasting during the meet on non-live days?
-- Does Brockton still have to pay 3% of their simulcast revenue to Suffolk?
-- Is there any real risk that would lead to Brockton NOT racing?
-- Are their any plans to put the Brockton signal on RTN and even have them available on an ADW?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[bello]

This would be truly fantastic news. I'll take a vacation around these dates.

[lamboguy]

they are going to be running june and july. the purses are going to be between $12,500- $15,000 for bottom of the barrel horses. they will run a 30 day meet and i probably will be there every day if i can find enough horses to race there.

[mabred]

During the Commission vote George Carney was asked if he won the region C
casino license would that affect Racing at his Fairgounds.That is where
a PARKS casiono will be built.He responded that there are Plans to build a 5/8 mile track at the old Raynham dog track so no matter what there would be racing but it would be in the Fall as he wants to keep his crew working.So
racing in Ma will be run for 30 days!!!Purses will be 100k perday from the
racehorse developement fund.

Mabred

[MonmouthParkJoe]

Ive never been before. Worth going? I will be back in Jersey this summer before saratoga, looks to be about 4.5 hours from me

[Milkshaker]

I applaud anyone who wants to open a new (or re-open a long-closed) racing venue in this day & age.

Having said that, Mr. Carney has often repeated that the Brockton meet will be a meet for the "locals," and he has even testified in front of the MA gaming commission that he would restrict races to exclude outfits from other circuits. He portrays these outfits as "raiding" purse money from MA horsemen.

In theory, this "for the locals" mentality goes over well with the clueless MA gaming commission (they essentially put the state out of the racing biz and are under substantial pressure to restore it), but in practice, it will be a recipe for disaster.

The same small fields of talentless horses competing on a bullring track hardly makes for an appealing betting product. Trying to restrict races to "locals" is exactly what you do NOT want to do if you want to support & grow the industry.

I can't think of a single track run for or by horsemen that offers anything even close to an appealing product.

And I'm not even touching the issue of horse & jockey safety. The MA gaming commission, which previously held Suffolk Downs to the NTRA safety standards, has lowered the bar and is only requiring that Brockton make a "good faith effort" to get their bullring accredited. I don't see that happening.

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by Milkshaker

I applaud anyone who wants to open a new (or re-open a long-closed) racing venue in this day & age.

Having said that, Mr. Carney has often repeated that the Brockton meet will be a meet for the "locals," and he has even testified in front of the MA gaming commission that he would restrict races to exclude outfits from other circuits. He portrays these outfits as "raiding" purse money from MA horsemen.

In theory, this "for the locals" mentality goes over well with the clueless MA gaming commission (they essentially put the state out of the racing biz and are under substantial pressure to restore it), but in practice, it will be a recipe for disaster.

The same small fields of talentless horses competing on a bullring track hardly makes for an appealing betting product. Trying to restrict races to "locals" is exactly what you do NOT want to do if you want to support & grow the industry.

I can't think of a single track run for or by horsemen that offers anything even close to an appealing product.

And I'm not even touching the issue of horse & jockey safety. The MA gaming commission, which previously held Suffolk Downs to the NTRA safety standards, has lowered the bar and is only requiring that Brockton make a "good faith effort" to get their bullring accredited. I don't see that happening.

I'm a Mass. native, and cut my teeth at SUF, RKM, etc., and nevertheless I agree with you. I can almost buy the Suffolk part of the plan, I thought their 3-day experiment went off better than expected...but a long-shuttered bullring/fair for locals only...ooof.

Can nobody in Mass read about what's happening with racinos in other states? Other than perhaps NY, Mass is going to be the first state to shut the tap off of the subsidy and keep the casino $$ for the general fund. So what...locals get a couple years of a dead-cat-bounce and then in the crapper for good.

[Mailman]

I attended many times . It seemed like jock Tommy Maeda won every race.
Where will these horses be stabled, I dont remember any barns there?

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by Mailman

I attended many times . It seemed like jock Tommy Maeda won every race.
Where will these horses be stabled, I dont remember any barns there?

they have plenty of barns there, they will open up for training in May.

[Mailman]

Thank You.

[Saratoga_Mike]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

they have plenty of barns there, they will open up for training in May.

What's the condition of the track? Has it been used as a training ctr over the years?

[RaceBookJoe]

I used to love going to Great Barrington, just might have to sneak a trip over to Brockton next year.

[lamboguy]

Originally Posted by Saratoga_Mike

What's the condition of the track? Has it been used as a training ctr over the years?

the Carney's used it as a training track about 3 years ago for their own horses. i don't think anyone has used it the last 2 years.

they always had a fair the first 2 weeks of july.

when my first x-wife threw me out of the house, i moved to Brockton. that's about all i could afford 30 years ago. that's when i met the Carney's.

my great story was when they had their last meet they needed 9 jockeys on the grounds in order to run. they only had 8. but t hey knew where the 9th one was, he was in jail for failure to pay child support. he owed about $1800 and to get him out you had to go to the jail which was about 90 miles away and payoff the money. Carney called me at 1:00 a.m. and woke me up and told me his problem. he asked me if i had the money on me and i said yes. he told me where to go. so i went and it was the wrong jail. i got to the right jail about 4:00 a.m. i went there with the cash and they told me they don't take cash. i called George up and told him, he called the governor and woke him up. The Governor called the jail and they took the money!

i brought the kid to the track and he wound up winning 3 races that afternoon.

[Saratoga_Mike]

Originally Posted by lamboguy

the Carney's used it as a training track about 3 years ago for their own horses. i don't think anyone has used it the last 2 years.

they always had a fair the first 2 weeks of july.

when my first x-wife threw me out of the house, i moved to Brockton. that's about all i could afford 30 years ago. that's when i met the Carney's.

my great story was when they had their last meet they needed 9 jockeys on the grounds in order to run. they only had 8. but t hey knew where the 9th one was, he was in jail for failure to pay child support. he owed about $1800 and to get him out you had to go to the jail which was about 90 miles away and payoff the money. Carney called me at 1:00 a.m. and woke me up and told me his problem. he asked me if i had the money on me and i said yes. he told me where to go. so i went and it was the wrong jail. i got to the right jail about 4:00 a.m. i went there with the cash and they told me they don't take cash. i called George up and told him, he called the governor and woke him up. The Governor called the jail and they took the money!

i brought the kid to the track and he wound up winning 3 races that afternoon.

Only you would start a story with that line...too funny.

[Scanman]

Originally Posted by Track Collector

Racing is set to return to a MA fair!

Link

The last time was at the Northampton fair in 2005.

Brockton last raced in 2001, and before that in 1972.

I love these 1/2-mile tracks, and with a possible 30 days of racing, my vehicle will be making a lot of 400+ mile one-way trips to the Boston suburb.

I'm hoping that our guy Phil (lamboguy), who knows the Carney's, can get some more detailed info. Among other things, I'm curious about:
-- Possible dates for racing (perhaps some during the actual fair in early July)?
-- Will there be simulcasting on race days?
-- Will there be simulcasting during the meet on non-live days?
-- Does Brockton still have to pay 3% of their simulcast revenue to Suffolk?
-- Is there any real risk that would lead to Brockton NOT racing?
-- Are their any plans to put the Brockton signal on RTN and even have them available on an ADW?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Great news and thanks for the heads-up. I'm hoping for July/August dates. I'll be in Australia on a 20 track assault from the end of May till the end of June.

I'm sure they'll have Brockton looking good. Should be bags of fun!