RIP: New England Racing

[Patuxet]

With the closing of Suffolk Downs yet another vibrant chapter in American racing comes to an end -- not with a bang but a whimper.

When I was growing up in New England race tracks flourished there. Nationally significant races were routinely contested between big name horses at major tracks in NH (Rockingham), RI (Narragansett) and MA (Suffolk). Lesser racing venues -- Lincoln Downs (RI), Scarborough Down (ME), Green Mountain (VT) -- kept fans involved elsewhere.

Best of all for me, because it offered an opportunity for close- up, hands-on racing experience, was the Thoroughbred fair circuit -- 6 to 10 days of racing at tracks across Massachusetts from Marshfield on the south shore to Great Barrington in the Berkshires. Others in the circuit were located in Brockton, Weymouth, Taunton, Topsfield, Franklin and Northampton.

At these tracks, both big and small, I saw, learned about and fell in love with Thoroughbreds and racing, something which has meant more to me than few other things in my long life. Now they're all gone, along with the opportunity for other young people to fall in love with this sport. I feel like I've seen my college campus being razed and buried.

Allison Hill Roulston

[mini's mom]

and no one even noticed that the back side of Rockingham Park will be sold in January for Development - for what another shopping mall - there are plenty of them on RTE 28 & in surrounding areas -

the NH legislature is responsible for this - no one else - they refused to expand gambling because it will corrupt the citizens of NH and change the way of life - what life - we have the poorest state in the Country - .09% of economic growth (RI did better than NH in economic growth)- budget shortfalls, corrupt pols and on and on - and change poverty and put people to work - what are these Legislators thinking - guess they were not thinking at all -

to bad Suffolk has to close and now Rockingham will be sold off for development - Lou Smith would roll over in his grave if he knew - his beloved track being parceled off and sold - and if per chance the Casino /expanded gambling goes into effect in Jan (with a new bill ) then were are all the horses that come to race there , going to be stabled - old barn area - barns A-M - it is counterproductive not to wait until the new legislation is introduced and voted upon - but $$ talks and someone at Millineum Gaming wants to sell 50 acres.

FYI - I started an on line petition to save the race track - Ed Callahan has done a great job keeping it going even though the legislature keeps rejecting the expansion of gambling - look at all the crooks in office - judges and pols - so why not have more gambling - or do away with gambling all together.

RIP Rockingham Park - here comes another shopping Mall -

Susan E. Miller
Amherst NH