Unforeseen Consequences
If Suffolk Downs were to close permanently, the losses would go beyond jobs and open space:
Suffolk’s open tradition is not limited to jockeys. There are more women trainers at Suffolk Downs than at any other track — about 40 according to an informal count done last summer. Many of the grooms are women. The track vet is a woman. The board chair is a woman — Patricia Moseley. There are only two women stewards in the country and one, Susan Walsh, is at Suffolk Downs. Beyond these are women who work as pony riders, walkers, tellers and in many other posts … Suffolk’s demise would destroy what has been a steady force for the equality of women in the workplace. Solely as a topic that concerns working women, and one with national implications, the survival of Suffolk Downs deserves care and attention.
