 View of the racetrack from Orient Heights | |
| Location | 525 McClellan Highway East Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°23′N 71°01′W / 42.39°N 71.01°W |
| Owned by | Eastern Racing Association (first) Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC (last) |
| Date opened | July 10, 1935 (original) January 1, 1992 (reopening) |
| Date closed | December 30, 1989 (original) June 30, 2019[1](reopening) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Course type | Flat |
| Notable races | Massachusetts Handicap |
| Official website | |
Suffolk Downs is a former Thoroughbred race track in East Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The track opened in 1935 after being built by Joseph A. Tomasello for a cost of $2 million.[2] It was sold in May 2017 to a developer who plans to create housing and a shopping district. The final day of live racing at the track was June 30, 2019,[1] with the facility hosting simulcast race wagering thereafter.[3] The only remaining live horse racing in Massachusetts is at Plainridge Park Casino, which has harness racing.[4]
A number of famous horses raced at Suffolk Downs, including Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Funny Cide, and Cigar. The Massachusetts Handicap (or MassCap) was the track's most significant annual event, last held in 2008. The track is a 1-mile (1.6 km) dirt oval with a seven-furlong inner turf track. Non-race functions at the venue included the Hot Dog Safari. The track provided the name of the nearby MBTA Suffolk Downs subway station.
- ^ a b Kelly, Nick (July 1, 2019). "The memories will last long after the final lap at Suffolk Downs". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ "Suffolks Holiday Program: Tomasello Memorial, Named After Founder of Track, is Main Event.; Nine Topnotch Horses to Clash in Principal Feature, Which is Expected to Draw Tremendous Attendance., Daily Racing Form, 1939-05-30".
- ^ Bello, Mike (June 28, 2019). "An ode to Suffolk Downs, and the grandfather who taught me all about horse racing there". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ^ "Horse Racing". Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Retrieved June 28, 2019.