The Final Nail In The Coffin of New England Racing

[Patuxet]

This sad headline and story are in today's NY Times:
"End of Casino Partnership Leaves Fate of East Boston Racetrack in Doubt"
Suffolk Downs, a famed but fading East Boston racetrack, is looking for a new partner in a competition for the area's sole casino license.

It saddens me to read what is obviously the preface to the final chapter of racing in yet another corner of the country, especially one that means so much to me personally.

I was born and grew up in New England where at an early age I learned to love the sport at its five main tracks. In addition to Suffolk Downs we had Rockingham Park in NH, Narragansett Park and Lincoln Downs in RI, Scarborough Downs in ME and for a while Green Mountain in Pownal VT. In addition there was a spirited racing scene at Massachusetts county fairs in Marshfield, Brockton, Weymouth, Topsfield, Northhampton and Great Barrington.

The first "name" Thoroughbred I had an up-close look at was Coaltown (a Calumet Bull Lea colt second to Citation in the 1948 KY Derby) when he was stabled at Narragansett where he won the Roger Williams Handicap. My uncle kept some of his horses at Narragansett, a couple of which I could safely gallop.

At Narragansett I knew an apprentice named Tony DeSpirito who was my own age and also Massachusetts-born. In 1952, a year before I went to college, Tony not only won the national riding title but also broke the record for most wins in a single year. His achievement was an incredibly involving emotional experience for me and cemented my enthusiasm for the sport.

Without an opportunity to experience live racing first hand, how can kids continue to come into the sport? RIP New England racing

[ct2346]

Nice post. I too am saddened by this. Don't forget GBF on the fair circuit - where you could see just about anything happen.

[Joltman]

Really sorry to hear about this Patuxet. Maybe someone can come in to keep it going at least at some level.

This line says it all - Without an opportunity to experience live racing first hand, how can kids continue to come into the sport?

Somewhere, the Keeneland model of racing has to kick in - which can thrive without casinos. I find it interesting that racing mirrors the ever-widening gaps of the haves and have nots in this country = viz the FT sale yesterday. The sport for Kings again.

jm