| BUSINESS |
Bill Heller
Suffolk Downs
MASSACHUSETTS REVIVAL s it coincidence or destiny that Suffolk Downs’ chief operating officer Chip Tuttle became a marathon runner? Because he’s been in for the long haul, trying to keep Thoroughbred racing alive in his native state of Massachusetts for decades. While nagging injuries have put his marathon running on hold, Tuttle has been moving full-throttle forward to on the horseracing end of things by reviving the Great Barrington Fair, which has been dormant for 20 years. Live racing at Suffolk Downs, the last Thoroughbred track still operating in what was once a vibrant racing state, has been on life support since 2014 when it lost a bid as a casino site. Instead, a casino was granted to Wynn Resorts’ Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, 15 minutes from Suffolk Downs. It’s scheduled to open in 2019. Full racing seasons at Suffolk have been pared to a handful of weekend festivals with food trucks, live music, family activities,
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a weekend jockey challenge, horsemen’s shipping charges covered, and exorbitant purses averaging more than $50,000 per race daily. This year, $10,000 claimers raced for a purse of $41,000 on June 9th and June 10th. Two of this year’s three festivals remain, on July 7-8 and August 4-5, and another may be added in the fall. The weekends were spaced out so that owners with Massachusetts-breds could compete in three different stakes during the year. But that’s it, especially if Amazon decides to locate its second headquarters at the 161acre Suffolk Downs property which Bostonbased HYM Investment Group purchased for $155 million in May, 2017. A decision is expected by Amazon, whose headquarters are in Seattle, Washington, by October. If Amazon chooses another site, Suffolk could squeeze in one more year of festivals. How long can a patient last on life support? There are only two possible conclusions: the patient recovers or the patient dies.
Here is the maddening part: millions of dollars remain for purses if they can find a place to race, thanks to the Race Horse Development Fund implemented in 2011 to give Thoroughbred and Standardbred horsemen, breeders, and backstretch workers revenue from the state’s increasingly successful casinos: 80% to purses, 16% to breeders, and 4% to backstretch welfare. That fund was almost wiped out last July, but despite the push of some state legislators, it was included in the state’s 2018 budget. But “the fund doesn’t do the horsemen any good if they don’t have a place to run,” Tuttle said. A renovated track at Great Barrington, which could open as early as next year, could be the last option. The track is still there; the grandstand and the unique tunnel to the infield remain. The background of the beautiful Berkshires changing leaves during fall racing is just as awesome. And the love of racing has never wavered.