Quote:
Originally Posted by Suffolk Shippers
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.
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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.