This past weekend, Suffolk Downs in East Boston welcomed more than 13,000 visitors who came for live thoroughbred racing and a food truck festival.
The event delivered on its promise, with a festive, carnival-like setting across two sweltering summer days at the renowned racetrack.
Seasoned racing enthusiasts mingled with young families experiencing their first close encounter with the sport that was once among the most popular in the United States. The Kentucky Derby, for instance, continues to be known as “most exciting two minutes in all of sports.”
Chip Tuttle, Chief of Operations and a prominent figure in the horse racing industry, expressed satisfaction with the strong attendance over the weekend. According to Tuttle, the food truck festival served as an important draw, offering attendees choices beyond typical racetrack food options.
Concerns had surfaced midweek about whether the racing weekend would proceed, as the State Legislature did not vote on the necessary measure before its session ended on July 31. However, the legislature convened informally Thursday to restore the law, and Gov. Charlie Baker subsequently signed it, enabling both simulcasting and live racing to resume.
“Thankfully it was taken care of quickly and we appreciate the work of the House leadership, and the Senate, and the governor to get it remedied in less than 48 years hours,” Tuttle stated. “We thank Speaker DeLeo for his efforts especially.”
According to Tuttle, Suffolk Downs has submitted a request to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for an additional live racing weekend on Sept. 15-16. “It’s on the Commission’s agenda for their meeting on Aug. 14,” Tuttle noted. “We’d really like to run one more weekend. There’s certainly funding to do it in the Racehorse Development Fund and it helps the local horsemen, the Massachusetts breeders. They don’t have as many opportunities to run for purse money as they like and we’re doing our best to accommodate them.”
Tuttle indicated that Suffolk Downs will remain operational through the end of 2018 for simulcasting purposes.
“And we’re already in discussions with both the horsemen and HYM [the real estate company that will be redeveloping the Suffolk property] about dates for the first half of 2019,” he continued.