JC / Railbird

Suffolk Downs Archive

Suffolk Handle, Attendance Up

“Suffolk Downs posted increases in daily average handles and attendance in 2004, the first season the track operated as the lone Thoroughbred track in New England,” reports the Daily Racing Form. The average daily handle was more than $1.1 million from all sources, an increase of 5.3% over 2003, while average daily attendance rose 5.5% to 3421.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on December 4, 2004

‘Til Next Spring

That’s all for Ascot Doll and Suffolk Downs until 2005
The season ended at Suffolk Downs today, and my racing companion and I snuck away from work to catch a little action. We arrived barely in time for the third race; the horses were being loaded in the gate as we entered the grandstand. No matter, the race we really wanted to see was the fourth, in which our mutual favorite, Ascot Doll, was running. This afternoon was the first time Ascot Doll had raced since late June owing to an ankle injury, and he didn’t run as well as his trainer would have liked (he was, alas, last by several lengths), but he returned to the barn sound and peppy and all was forgiven. The Doll is going to a farm for the winter and will be back at Suffolk next spring, just as I’m sure I will.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on November 29, 2004

At the Downs Today

Jockey Winston Thompson extended his winning streak to 13 days with three wins this afternoon and clinched the meet’s jockey title, beating out eight-time title champ Joe Hampshire. With one day of racing left at Suffolk Downs, Thompson leads Hampshire 154-143.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on November 27, 2004