Suffolk Downs opened its racing season on Saturday with 11,000 attendees marking the beginning of its 75th Anniversary season. This opening may represent the final time the historic track operates as a racing venue alone. With expanded gaming legislation advancing through both the House, where a bill has already been approved and reported favorably, and the Senate, which is reportedly drafting its own version, Suffolk Downs could potentially become a casino in addition to a horse racing track by next year’s opening. “It was nice to see so many people having such a good time,” noted Chip Tuttle, the track’s chief operating officer and architect of its push for casino designation. Massachusetts appears positioned to expand gambling, and Suffolk Downs is believed to be among the leading contenders for a casino license. The venue, which first opened on July 10, 1935, has long served as a launching point for legendary thoroughbreds. Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, John Henry, Cigar and Skip Away all began their careers at Suffolk Downs before achieving varying levels of success, with Seabiscuit becoming the most famous star to emerge from the track’s storied history.
Saturday’s opening day featured an exclusive gathering in the Top Sider Room, the track’s premier vantage point overlooking the racing surface. Track ownership and hundreds of invited guests from Revere, East Boston, Winthrop and Chelsea attended the invitation-only event. Attendees included former State Senate President Robert Travaglini, State Senator Anthony Petruccelli, Representative Kathi Anne Reinstein, East Boston city councilor Sal LaMattina, numerous Revere city councilors, and a substantial contingent of local business leaders and track supporters. The expanded gaming bill is anticipated to be finalized and voted into law around mid-July, though its exact final form remains subject to ongoing discussion. Saturday’s seamless opening at Suffolk Downs suggests promising developments ahead for the track as it enters what may prove to be its most significant year in its 75-year history.
