JC / Railbird

Suffolk Downs Archive

Suffolk Schedule May Shrink

Suffolk Downs must apply to the state racing commission for 2005 dates by October 1, and it looks as though the track will ask for 900-1000 races, a slight reduction from this year’s 1100. (Boston Globe)

Posted in Suffolk Downs on September 26, 2004

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