JC / Railbird

Suffolk Downs Archive

Ladies’ Night

Or rather, ladies’ late afternoon. Suffolk Downs’ Jill Jellison and Tammi Piermarini are among 12 female jockeys taking part in the fourth annual Female Jockey Challenge at Hoosier Park on November 6.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on November 2, 2004

News from Suffolk Downs

With another win this afternoon, jockey Joe Hampshire extended his winning streak to 10 days. I must ask: When will there be a Hampshire bobblehead?
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Not too long ago, it looked as though the meet would go stakesless in its final weeks. But a little money appears to have been found somewhere: Track officials announced this afternoon that one $40,000 Massachusetts-bred stakes race would be held each Saturday in November.
More: “Four more statebred stakes” (Daily Racing Form)

Posted in Suffolk Downs on October 20, 2004

Eight Days and Counting

Suffolk Downs’ leading jockey Joe Hampshire extended his winning streak to eight days with three wins this afternoon.

Posted in Suffolk Downs on October 18, 2004

In An Ideal World

Suffolk Downs and Rockingham Park would make up a New England Thoroughbred racing circuit once more. If only reality didn’t intrude. (Boston Globe)

Posted in Suffolk Downs on October 15, 2004

Tough Year Ahead

“Suffolk Downs officials want to reduce the number of races they run to maximize their limited purse funds, but the responsibility of supporting the region’s horsemen means there won’t be much change in the schedule in 2005.” (Daily Racing Form)

Posted in Suffolk Downs on October 8, 2004

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

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