Suffolk Downs adds extra weekend of live racing in September

Suffolk Downs was granted approval from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Tuesday to add a fourth weekend of live racing to the schedule, with the funding to come from the Racehorse Development Fund. The track will host the final live racing and food truck festival weekend of the year on Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16.

“These festival weekends have proven to be successful in attracting fans and wagering and for giving local horsemen a chance to compete for purse money,” said Chip Tuttle, the Chief Operating Officer at Suffolk Downs. “We’re looking forward to 2019 and to continuing to work with the MGC and the Legislature on a longer-term commitment to racing that will provide more certainty and, in turn, investment in the state.”

The track has hosted three weekends of live racing this year that have been met with an average of over 6,800 fans in attendance per day as well as a field size averaging 11 horses per race.  There was in excess of $1 million in purses and awards each weekend. The same purse and awards structure is scheduled for the final weekend. 

The track remains open year-round for simulcasting.

Built by 3,000 workers in just 62 days when Massachusetts authorized pari-mutuel wagering in 1935, historic Suffolk Downs has been a showcase for some of the most famous names in Thoroughbred racing history, including Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, John Henry, Cigar and Skip Away.