JC / Railbird

Suffolk Downs Archive

Lapensee in Critical Condition

Suffolk Downs jockey Michel Lapensee is in a coma. The 58-year-old rider sustained serious injuries when his mount in Monday’s ninth race, Mecke’s Money, broke down on the far turn. He was immediately transported to Massachusetts General Hospital for surgery and is listed in critical condition with head and spinal cord injuries. Mecke’s Money, a six-year-old gelding, suffered a compound fracture of his left cannon bone and was euthanized. This is the second time this meet Lapensee has had the misfortune of an accident. In a similar incident in May, Lapensee’s mount Explorationist also broke down on the far turn, throwing the rider, who escaped injury then.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on October 25, 2005

Wednesday Notes

Suffolk Downs has added four stakes races to the schedule for the remainder of the meet. The Louise Kimball will be run on October 8, followed by the John Kirby on October 22, and the Amelia Peabody on November 5. The Norman Hall is scheduled for the meet’s final Saturday, November 19. The added races will each have a $40,000 purse and are restricted to Massachusetts-bred thoroughbreds.
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NYRA president Charles Hayward told a state oversight committee that the organization would “go bust” in November unless it was allowed to sell property near Aqueduct (Newsday).
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No surprise here: “Rep. Ed Whitfield of Kentucky, whose subcommittee is investigating the Jockeys’ Guild, said on Monday night that he doubts the guild has fully complied with a subpoena issued two weeks ago that asks the guild to provide financial documents by Oct. 3″ (Daily Racing Form).

Posted in Suffolk Downs on October 5, 2005

Suffolk Cancels Wednesday

Suffolk Downs has cancelled Wednesday’s card so that horsemen and track employees can attend a hearing on legislation that could significantly affect racing in the state. In an all-or-nothing move, slots supporters have asked legislators to include language approving slot machines in a simulcasting bill that must be passed this year for the state’s racetracks to remain open, daring governor Mitt Romney to follow through on his threat to veto any legislation that expands gaming and kill off an entire industry.
The hearing is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. in the Gardner Auditorium at the State House.
“The future of thoroughbred racing in New England and specifically at Suffolk Downs is at stake,” said Mario DeStefano, New England HBPA president. “This legislation is so important to us that we really feel the need to be significantly represented at the State House for Wednesday’s hearing.” In addition to the horsemen planning to attend, the union representing mutuel tellers and other track employees will bus hundreds of workers to the hearing to show support.
Desperation? Calculation? I’m not entirely sure which is driving this longshot push for slots. I’ll be at the hearing tomorrow, though, trying to sort it out.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on September 27, 2005

Suffolk Saturday

Trainer Reynaldo Abreu brought his career record to six wins on Saturday when Bird Charm easily overwhelmed his competition in race one, a maiden special weight. Since the former Nick Zito assistant took charge of Marylou Whitney’s stable in June, he’s earned five wins at Suffolk Downs. The stable is based in Saratoga. “It’s just as easy to go to Suffolk as Belmont,” Abreu explained last week after winning his fourth race at the Downs with another maiden, Bird Harbor. And the races are easier too (Daily Racing Form).

Posted in Suffolk Downs on September 25, 2005