Jessica Chapel / Railbird

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Suffolk Weekend

A food truck festival, a $100,000 stakes race, and the CANTER Showcase made this past weekend a big one for Suffolk Downs …


The crowd on the Suffolk apron, early Saturday afternoon. That mass of people stretching along the back? In line for the grilled cheese truck.


The biggest race of the year was also the best race of the year, with #2 It’s Me Mom (inside) out-bobbing favored #11 Nicole H at the wire in the six-furlong $100,000 Robert O’Malley Stakes. The final time was a swift 1:09.67 after an opening quarter in :21.17 and a half in :43.63.


It’s Me Mom, Willie Martinez up, entering the winner’s circle.


Leading rider Tammi Piermarini after finishing fourth on #9 D’Wild Ride in the Robert O’Malley Stakes.


Mr. Meso, local favorite, recently retired champion, and new racetrack pony, taking a break after the Saturday feature.


Fall colors and a beautiful sunset at Suffolk Downs on Saturday.


CANTER New England held its sixth annual Showcase on Sunday morning. Dozens of people turned out to see more than 70 horses available for sale. Here’s Krabby Patties, making a great impression with her rider.


After taking his turn through Showcase, O’Malley met a potential buyer.


Kappy charms the Showcase crowd. (He sold.)

Where Have I Read That?

Something about the subject and stats of Steve Haskin’s linkless latest, “Girls Gone Wild,” on the domination of fillies and mares in open company stakes worldwide, seemed awfully familiar as I was reading it on Saturday.

It could be that Valerie Grash wrote on a similar topic only two days before, drawing on the wealth of data and insights she’s accumulated in writing about top class distaffers internationally over the past couple years.

Suffolk Showcase

Tin Soldier with Jen
Are you coming to Suffolk Showcase on Sunday?

Looking for a new horse? The sixth annual Suffolk Showcase is this Sunday, October 23, at Suffolk Downs. From 9:00 AM to noon, visitors will have a chance to check out dozens of great thoroughbreds ready for new careers and ask questions of trainers and owners directly. Browse the CANTER New England listings to get a sense of what’s available. It’s no exaggeration to say there’s a horse for every rider — CANTER volunteers (including me) have been busy as the Suffolk meet winds down, cataloging horses athletic and adorable. Racehorses make terrific sporthorses and companions — as the success stories Susan Salk has been publishing on Off-Track Thoroughbreds prove, there’s little these athletes can’t do when they leave the racetrack.

10/18/11 Addendum: Today’s “I want him” CANTER horse. And more!

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