Strong Opening
Suffolk Downs opened for the summer on Saturday, and what a day it was: Drawn by good weather and a Kentucky Derby starter with a local connection, a crowd of 14,612 packed the grandstand for a nine-race card on which $441,507 was bet. If the lines were long, the mood was celebratory as friends and neighbors welcomed each other back for the season, and community organizations were honored with winner’s circle presentations, including one for the Revere Fire Department (photo above), thanking them for so ably putting out a fire that broke out in the track kitchen last week. Trainer Jay Bernardini had three wins on the day; jockeys David Amiss, Vernon Bush, and Dyn Panell scored with two each. Racing resumes Wednesday.
