JC / Railbird

Suffolk Downs Archive

Stakesless Weeks Ahead

“There are nine weeks remaining until the meet ends at Suffolk, but no more stakes are scheduled.” The track is penny-pinching in anticipation of the second straight winter without racing. (Daily Racing Form)

Posted in Suffolk Downs on September 24, 2004

Missed Opportunity

There’s a point in Andrew Beyer’s memoir, “My $50,000 Year at the Races,” in which the author realizes why the handicappers he admires so much are able to remain calm regardless of what they lose: It’s because they know there will always be another betting opportunity. I had to remind myself of that when I saw the official chart for the fifth race at Suffolk Downs today.

If you looked at Royalist’s past performances, you wouldn’t find a very promising animal in his three starts at Suffolk Downs. He’d been eased twice and ran eighth in his last race. Yet, only a few days ago I touted this horse to one of the grandstand guys who asked for tips on Mario’s barn. His record was bad, I admitted, but he’d been put on Lasix after bleeding, had sharp workouts, and his behavior around the barn was that of a colt feeling good. “Maybe he’s the longshot I’m looking for,” the guy mused. He was, sir, winning today at odds of 24-1, and I hope you were there to collect, unlike me.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on August 31, 2004

A Hot One at Suffolk

What a hellishly hot day at Suffolk Downs. The heat in the barns was brutal; stepping outside offered no respite. The horses were the most ill-tempered I’ve seen them this summer. Nine of Cups, usually so timid she startles at a strong breeze, was baring her teeth, stamping her feet impatiently whenever we stopped during her walk, and swishing her tail furiously. Miami Mike, usually unperturbed by any commotion on the shedrow, startled at open doors, pigeons, and the sound of bags being torn open. He was also in a mood to bite everything — the sponge during his bath, the shank during his walk — but people, for once. That was left to the usually sweet-tempered Ascot Doll, who was reaching out to nip all who passed his stall. I left the barn at noon, feeling unbelievably sweaty and banged up. I don’t think the horses felt much better.
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The barn was busy this morning with more than heat-addled horses, as several people stopped by to congratulate Mario, newly elected president of the New England HBPA.
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Joanne McDaid, an apprentice rider at Suffolk this year, has moved on to Philadelphia Park.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on August 28, 2004

“Cat Lady” Denied License

Boston resident Heidi Erickson, who gained local notoriety as the “Cat Lady” following her arrest last year on charges of animal cruelty after several sick and dead cats were discovered in her Beacon Hill apartment, was before the Massachusetts Racing Commission Wednesday appealing Suffolk Downs’ decision to deny her a grooming license. The commission upheld the track’s decision to reject her application because Erickson lied about her criminal record and gave a false social security number.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on August 12, 2004