Another Year Passes
Suffolk Downs’ 2005 meet ended on Wednesday before a small crowd and in cold, wet weather. Numbers on attendance and handle haven’t been released yet, but it’s a safe prediction that both will be down from last year’s modest increases, owing to the spring drizzle and chill that afflicted the meet’s opening weeks and the cancellation of the major stakes schedule. This year was certainly not the track’s best, what with the absence of the Massachusetts Handicap in June, the failed bid for slots, and the sad death of jockey Michel Lapensee in an accident in October. Despite the gloom that opened and closed the season, there were plenty of good moments during the past six months — I think of Stylish Sultana winning the African Prince Stakes in June by a neck on the outside after a strong late move mid-stretch, for instance, which was also the same day that jockey Winston Thompson won six races in an afternoon for the first time. The two-year-old races this July were also a high point. New York trainers Christophe Clement and Reynaldo Abreu shipped in several classy contenders, who were surprisingly well-matched by Suffolk’s own. Watching the baby races here was a nice prelude to watching them in Saratoga.
The meet title for leading jockey went to Thompson, who ended the season with 158 wins, and John Rigattieri, with 93 wins, was the leading trainer. Michael Gill was the leading owner, with 54 wins. Live racing is scheduled to return in May 2006.
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The meet may be over, but Suffolk horses retiring from racing still need help finding new homes.
