MA casino lean likely dooms Suffolk (Update: Deal set for 2015-16)
 

Official vote came 3-1 for Wynn.

Tough day for Suffolk, it's probably lived longer than it should have and we all know racinos aren't always (ever?) the answer. But, I am friendly with some folks who work over in racing ops and who run small strings there and I can't help but feel for them. I spent an afternoon there at the end of August and despite hitting the pick 4 - I left resigned to the unfortunate fact that the people there were living every day recently in uncertainty and it could cave on them any day.

It'll be the last trip I took to the track I learned to gamble at.

Really too bad for Suffolk Downs. This will likely be the beginning of the end of horse racing in MA, along with all of the on track jobs and the ancillary jobs.

My OTTB was originally a Suffolk trainee, and it is my home track, so I have a soft spot for Suffolk.

Update: CEO Chip Tuttle meeting with employees and horsemen over the next few days to discuss winding down operations.

Thanks to Mr. Mosely for bringing racing back to suffolk. He truly was A Phenomenon.

Common sense, or lack thereof, doomed them. If they had allowed a citywide vote, it would have been approved easily. They forgot that by having East Boston only, vote on the casino, they would be alright. everyone would get jobs, and be happy. Unfortunately, this is no longer an Italian town where everyone wants to work, work and more work. Its more about avoiding work now.
I don't want a casino in my backyard, except if it saved racing. Hossracing could be awesome here if they knew how to promote it. they should have hired Byk Boss Man, and racing woulda been saved.

What a very sad decision.

In an ironic juxtaposition of events, Trump Plaza, the centerpiece of Atlantic City, closed its doors at 6:00am while this decision awards a casino license to the Wynn organization. There is no doubt that Wynn and his team will do something noteworthy, but Massachusetts itself has cut the blood supply on its own thoroughbred tradition.

Many years back (in fact in 2001), I wrote an article for Hoof Beats magazine talking about 25 year cycles - at that time, it was the 25 years of the Meadowlands (1976-2001) and suggesting what might happen by watching the Roosevelt model (1953-1988).

Suffolk Downs should have received more respect from the legislature and decision makers. It survived beyond the 25 year model and had long term history in the state. It provided a renewal for Spring every year with 12,000+ in attendance. I was last at Suffolk in 2011 just before my son's graduation from Boston College. As the fog rolled in from the bay entering the fourth race, I realized so many things that made this racetrack so special.

New England has now lost all of its jai alai frontons, thoroughbred tracks, and dog racing tracks. I will never understand as long as I live the alure of one-armed bandits, video poker, and blackjack.

Watchmaker is having a total meltdown over this on Twitter.

After the vote today, I mentioned that it was understandable that the track is closing.

His reply: "Understandable? What a terrible choice of words."

I stated the obvious. Sugar-coating the fact that the Suffolk racing product is beyond awful.

He replies with condescending BS.

I told him "I laughed" in response to his condescending BS about how I know nothing.

Anyone with even basic reading comprehension skills can figure out that I'm laughing at him...but he goes off on a rant about how awful a person I must be for laughing at a racetrack closing and the jobs lost.

It was one of the most pathetic displays of Faux Outrage and twisting of words, that I've ever seen.

Who knew a hilarious meltdown like that could be induced simply by someone saying that Suffolk's closure "is understandable" after the casino vote didn't go their way today.

Sad day for sure. The people who run racing there are good people. But, their proposal was quite flawed and the decision to choose the Wynn proposal was quite understandable on the merits.

I will miss having Suffolk here and wish the result were different. But, I am hardly surprised by the outcome.

Paul

Doug, have you ever lost a job in horse racing? Perhaps had a period of unemployment of six to twelve months? Maybe longer? Questioned whether you would make that month's bills? Even eat?

Twitter's 140-character "meaning of life" discourses are often misunderstood. While you can argue that given today's events Suffolk's decision was understandable, I believe that Mike was reacting to the fact that the decision was handed down in the first place making any thought of "understanding" impossible to believe.

As a fan, you have the right to state your views on Suffolk Downs, but by no means did I read the exchange as a meltdown.

Connecticut is now seeing reduced revenues from both of their casinos. New Jersey is experiencing wholesale closures. So too will Massachusetts experience the same emptiness in two decade's time.

Suffolk Downs, for all the $4,000 platers, does have a history - and one worth more than a 3-1 vote.

Yes. I had both the East Coast analyst job and assistant figure-making job at TimeformUS until the position got moved to NYC.

And outside of betting horses, that was the only full-time job I've ever had in my entire life (racing or otherwise)


Excluding betting on horses, Yes! And for virtually my entire adult life.

No. I am very tight with my money, I don't borrow, take out loans, or finance for anything.


I personally enjoy the history of racing. And there are a lot of race tracks with great history that have closed.

Watchmaker has had a bug up his ass with me, ever since he decided to follow me. He basically used me calling the Suffolk closing "understandable" after today's vote, as his final chance to try and ankle-bite and pick a fight with me. He surely believed he had the moral high-ground because Suffolk was "his" track.

I didn't insult his first-born son (though he acts like Suffolk is that) I even sugar-coated how awful the Suffolk racing product is. But hey, I called the closing "understandable" after today's vote...and that's all it took to get him off to the races. It's a shame he unfollowed me, we were just getting acquainted.

I think we can all be frank in seeing that if Suffolk had their casino partnership, they'd basically be like Mountaineer or Presque Isle or one of the other meddling racinos out there. With possibly a cap of being like a Parx where you had a few signature events a year. It may have just kicked the can further down the road as to when it's demise was. I think everyone understands that and understands the issues with the stock that ran. But, like you said, what about those people who may be looking for ways to eat in a month?

I went to the 2007 MassCap with my now wife and for the big race, we went down to the apron to watch and a small guy squeezed in next to us, holding a strap for a bridle, turns out he was a groom. He was the groom for a local horse pushing 60-1 in the race, Firestriker. He was a small guy, no more than 5'6" or 7", maybe 140lbs. He had a suit on that was right off the rack of a thrift shop that was six sizes too big. Before the race went off he was telling us how excited he was, how he slept with the horse in the barn the night before and that maybe today was his day. The race went off and he was jumping to see it transpire and Firestriker was out to the lead into the clubhouse turn. You could see the man's eyes fill with emotion as he kept leaping up to see. After the half, the horse went in reverse, and I think finished. I turned to him and just said it was one of those days at the track and as long as the animal came back sound, there'd be another day to run.
The guy was in tears telling me how proud he was of the effort and how special he felt being able to see it and tell someone about his "big horse".
My perspective on racing changed that day, especially to the people who make the whole thing go.

What is THAT guy going to do now? I think a lot of people who spent time at Suffolk (like Mike W) know guys like that and that is why they take it a bit personally. It's not right or wrong, it's just human.

Yours was a brilliant and heartwarming contribution - thank you for sharing this story.

You successfully underscore the point about the human toll associated with this decision in Massachusetts.

Yes, economies and times change, but if someone took away your single greatest passion in life on September 29th, a mere dozen days from now, what would you do on the morning of September 30th? To a horse player, there is always another track to wager through your ADW. However, for those that run the show, when the lights go out, they are all too often out of sight, out of mind. It is easier for legislators to handle it in such a manner.

Think about it.

That's what makes this "business" so much more than a business. Bad enough when a person's livelihood is taken away, but when it's also his source of pride and identity, well then it's who he is that's been taken.

there were so many great times.....san fran stable, now monarch stable, Cooping, Moon Can Do, Rudy, Settoncourse is right on course. Louis Petro, John is out of the hunt, they've got a long way to go, Standing Ovations when Howard "howie the howitzer" Lanci won a race. Taking Concorde Bound and Carl Gambardella down in the $100,000 sprint. Frank Generazio was incredulous and took all his hosses elsewhere, Mike Welsch AKA The fox. Ernie Kunitake, Tommy Maeda, Roger Danjean, Pension Plan, Waquoit (SUPER MUD) over broad Brush. Behrens, Cigar 2 years in a row, and an autographed program from JD Bailey, who while hesitant at first, came around after I told him i was a big fan. and mentioned that I had beaten people half his size to a pulp. (writers embellishment) Lucent with a rush.. Go Go Frankie, Nora's song. Timmy Hills and Bill Perry, Bruce Smith JJ Kelly, Robbie Robinson and Uni. Henry Ma on his bicycle on the backside. Jim Jims gal on the lead at 25-1 at the 1/16 pole and after one crack right handed, sliding down the rail on her back for 10 lengths, but not get hurt, but very white from the rail. Timely Writer, Moms Command, royal Ski. It's padonia and achenar, acnanar and padonia, padonia and achenar, achenar and padonia, and it's ACHENAR !! They're at the post....Now they're all in, and you can put a ring around Bert Leo B. They've got a lonnnnnnnggggg way to go. ding dong action on the front end. The Swans vs the Canadian Geese on the pond. (don't mess with a swan). Goggles Paisano grating the padock in his ferrari golf cart. Shortsleeve Joe the Valet, no matter how cold. The bellow of Stewie or his father yelling "Tomorrow's racing form" Having Dave Wilson, the old handicapper for the herald, call us a sharp betting outfit in the paper. The trainer and I were wondering who the heck he was talking about. Knowing the good tellers, and the ones who wouldn't let you bet cause you were only 14. Gianni Versace, the greatest stooper that ever was. He could smella live ticket a mile away. Sal Carcia, handicapper extrodinare and one of teh finest human beings I know.

if you go anywhere and want to find someone else from Boston, Just yell "Now they're all in!" at the top of your lungs. Whomever looks right up, that's them

Gaming panel gave minimal weight to saving Suffolk's horse-racing jobs
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/bl....html?page=all


Interesting piece in Boston Biz Journal. Discussed exactly this with Lynne Snierson on Wednesday.. Prospect of new track raised given the Thoroughbred Development Fund monies that will be generated...

a certain guy who governs the state, pushed it to Wynn. they knew this last week. A guy who's gonna get $75,000 a speech when he's done

:tro: You said it!

Good piece, Steve. Also really enjoyed your commentary on Wednesday and Lynne's contribution. Really nailed it, the commission is giving more weight to potential jobs in casinos and the temporary construction work on the HOPE that the Wynn project ever actually has a shovel in the ground. All after basing the whole decision on the Plainridge slots parlor license on saving jobs in the harness industry. Mind-boggling flip flop.

I also think there is potential, if done right, for a future track to compete in Massachusetts once the fund for horse racing is being bankrolled by casinos and slots. There is also one remaining casino license to go out in MA for the southeast region, which an interesting thought would be to partner a smaller operation track along with anyone who gets involved in that region.

Lastly, Lynne reported in the Bloodhorse that the Carney family has reached out to the NE horseman in hopes they'd be interested in running a meet at the Brockton Fair in 2015. The Carney's will be applying for dates. I can't see the horseman turning that down, so it'll be interesting to see if maybe the fair circuit makes a small revival as well.

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...#disqus_thread

http://www.drf.com/news/suffolk-open...-leasing-track

Not necessarily done at Suffolk..

Suffolk also has moved closing day from Mon., Sept. 29 to Sat., Oct. 4.

MGC Explores Saving Racing
 

Published Thursday, September 25th, 4:00pm

It is somewhat amazing that a state with one operating thoroughbred track did not have a gaming commission in place that could have anticipated this outcome.

Well said. It was simply stunning that one day they make a decision to give the casino to Wynn and then the next day are like, well we need to find a way to make thoroughbred racing continue. Say what?!

They relied heavily on the "jobs creation" aspect of the Wynn proposal, which was mandated because the casino legislation is a job creation bill. However, the bill also created the thoroughbred industry fund, which they seemed to ignore to an extent. Just makes no sense. They're pretty delusional if they think someone is going to come in and run Suffolk next season while it being economically palatable to the current owners.

So, a subset of the land owners where the proposed Wynn casino will go in Everett were indicated by both the state and federal government yesterday. The MA gaming commission knew about them going back a year or so, which helped lead to the indictments.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/201...JZK/story.html

Chip Tuttle, COO of Suffolk, went on Twitter and (paraphrasing) lamented that he had to explain why crooks were getting money in the name of job creation while the people at SD were working their last days. He sent a second tweet blasting the MA gaming commission, which he later deleted (I think).

Doesn't change anything for Suffolk, per se, it would seem. But, it will give fodder to those supporting the repeal of the casino law. The repeal of the casino law would wipe out the horsemen's fund, which those guys are counting on to maybe resurrect racing in Massachusetts one day.

Suffolk Downs
 

It brought joy yesterday when after work I went to say farewell to my home track . As I pulled in, the place was jammed , just like the old days. Everyone came to say goodbye. Inside was packed. Lotta old hossplayers everywhere . It was really cool that so many came. I hope they will run a boutique meet where they go for a month before Saratoga. . Then race Tuesdays till it's over. Then another month. Maybe they'll hire mr Byk to save racing. If he can't do it , no one can

http://www.boston.com/sports/horse-r...8eP/story.html

Excellent piece by former Herald sportswriter Michael Gee. Germane fact in losing a regional facility like SUF is absence of an outlet to introduce potential sport participants to live racing. This reality is seemingly lost on the myopic 'good riddance' crowd.

Barbara Livingston was there taking pics for posterity. Even one for you boss!

You are right......an excellant column Steve, thanks for posting.

Loved this part:

The most popular form of sports gambling today is fantasy football. Were I in charge of marketing horse racing, I’d run ads on cable sports networks throughout the NFL season with a message along the lines of “when you get bored with that kids game, try a REAL mental challenge. Plus, we offer nine or ten games a day instead of one a week.

I did a Fantasy Football draft a few years ago.

The people who do them are tailor-made for horse racing. They virtually all carry laptops around with them. They're all opinionated and obsessed with stats. They're all sports news junkies who stay up to date on injuries and are aware of coaching changes, coordinator changes, new schemes, etc.

Most of these guys also like to gamble.

The leadership in horse racing is too dumb to see the crossover potential.

Talk about 'Fantasy' anything and it gets laughed at. They think those people are all a joke...playing a "kids game" as you called it.

Not totally Doug.. This announcement was a significant development in just that arena..

DraftKings Partners with Breeders' Cup World Championships
Monday, September 8, 2014

http://www.breederscup.com/article/d...-championships

NEW YORK (September 8, 2014) - The Breeders’ Cup and DraftKings, Inc., one of America’s leading Daily Fantasy Sports websites, today announced an agreement making DraftKings the exclusive Daily Fantasy Sports site of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships and the name-in-title sponsor of the $1 million DraftKings Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships is Thoroughbred racing’s most prestigious international event, consisting of 13 grade I races with purses and awards totaling $26 million. The event takes place October 31- November 1 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., and will be televised live on NBC and NBCSN.

The DraftKings Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, a grade I race for fillies and mares 3-years-old and older, contested at 7/8th of a mile on the main track, will be run on Saturday, November 1. Since its inception in 2007, 6 of the 7 Filly & Mare Sprint winners have been voted Thoroughbred racing’s Eclipse Award Champion Female Sprinter.

As part of the agreement, DraftKings and Breeders’ Cup will develop media and entertainment programs designed to support this historic horse racing event at Santa Anita Park and on a national level. Additionally, DraftKings will offer 12 special contests awarding vacation packages and exclusive VIP access to the Breeders' Cup racing weekend, providing experiences that cannot be purchased. Contestants can enter here: https://www.draftkings.com/BreedersCup.

“The wide ranging popularity that DraftKings has established in daily fantasy sports is an excellent fit for the challenge and excitement of Thoroughbred racing and the Breeders’ Cup,” said Craig Fravel, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “We welcome DraftKings to this year’s event as an exclusive partner and title sponsor of the Filly & Mare Sprint.”

DRAFT KINGS WEBSITE WITH CUP CONTEST: https://www.draftkings.com/lp/breederscup

A good, well run, off-track betting parlor is a much better outlet for developing a horse racing fan ...than a live-racing scene that showcases a terrible product. What's more, give that live-racing scene slots...and they'll showcase slots, instead of their bad racing product.

But hey, when people think of Off-Track horse betting...they generally think of New York State.

The off-track wagering parlors in New York State (or OTB's) are absolute sh!t-holes. I've never been in a New York State OTB that wasn't a complete disaster. What's more...they would rip you off on payouts.

The mentality of New Yorkers "the smart people and good handicappers go to the track" seems silly...but if you've ever been inside a New York State OTB, you'd understand that train of thought.

The old OTB in Erie looked like a University campus, compared to the OTB's in New York. They had 5 large comfortable rooms. Hundreds and hundreds of TV's. Two restaurants, a bar, and a concession stand. Hand the people in the back a VCR tape, and they'd tape a track feed for you, to anyone of about 30 different tracks throughout the country.

Even in the Mid 90's, you could bet on about 30 different tracks a day. Go to garbage pits in New York, and you'd have NYRA, but only get bits and pieces beyond that.

When I'd walk into our old OTB parlor, I'd walk into an environment where people cared about betting on horse racing. It was the only reason they showed up. I miss that.

I walk into PID and I'm immediately harassed by a security guard. Forced to identify myself. Once I do, a band is placed on my wrist. Occasionally, you'll get a security guard who is going for "Employee of the Month" who insists on searching my laptop bag, looking for a bomb. If you take off your bracelet, you get harassed. And when you take off your bracelet, it pulls off the hair on your wrist.

It's an impossible place to like if you're a simulcast horse player.

This is spot on. Make the OTB's into destinations by themselves and people will pick up the game. They also would be better congregation spots for regular horseplayers, since racetracks are usually out of the way and too hard to commute to regularly. NYCOTB did a ton to set back the game in public perception. Off-track betting parlors, when they're clean, have booze, good food and no riff-raff, will be places of interest in a city dying for somewhere to legally gamble and socialize.

I'm completely sympathetic to those who grew up with and loved Suffolk being sad to see it go. But the product was miserable and deteriorating further every year. The disappearance of a track from an urban area doesn't need to equate to the disappearance of horseplayers from there. It can mean just the opposite, if a track left behind by time and casinos is replaced by well-run OTB parlors that will get players off their ADW accounts now and then and can make playing the horses seem glamorous and cool again to the uninitiated.

Article from our one and only Chuck Simon :)

http://agameofskill.com/small-track-...-horse-racing/

Steve, very interesting from Mr. Welch on your program this morning re: Suffolk and Stronach. Tim Rivto, speaking on behalf of Stronach saying they're looking at all "wayward" tracks (in terms of profitability) and coming in and running those tracks. Any number of tracks fall into that bucket, AP, SUF, Colonial, FG...

Sounds like if the casino law remains intact post-election, they could be interested based on the revenue that will be skimmed off the casinos and put into the horse racing development fund. I have heard media reports say that fund could reach $100m in the next decade. Very interesting development.

How about that? Maybe I missed it elsewhere, but was news to me. And it sounded exactly as you suggest: That Stronach is monitoring and considering opportunities at any and all of the venues that are in question.

The development fund in MA is projected to reach $140,000,000.

The New England horseman have brought on former Suffolk COO Lou Raffetto to be their point person on working with the owners to lease the track and run in 2015. Raffetto revived the track in the early 1990's after it had shut down and then was running the MD tracks.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/201...MwN/story.html

He predates my knowledge of the game to any extent. Not sure if this is a good, bad or indifferent thing for Suffolk Downs.

Lou Raffeto knows what he's doing. we might be all right