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Suffolk Downs is a thoroughbred horse racing facility in East Boston, Massachusetts
with two tracks.  Suffolk Downs is known for its fast racing strip and carefully
groomed landscaping. Considered one of New England’s premier race tracks,
it features live racing in a season that typically runs from May through
November.
In addition to the regular live thoroughbred races, Suffolk Downs plays host
to special regional stakes events of significance, among these are the Massachusetts
Handicap, the Moseley Breeders Cup Handicap, the Suffolk Downs Oaks, Old Ironsides
Stakes and Bruce G. Smith Memorial.
| • Length |
: |
One
mile for the Main track; About 7 furlongs for the Turf Course |
| • Composition |
: |
Stone dust
base, mason sand, extra silt and clay added during warmer seasons (Main);
perennial rye grass (Turf) |
| • Width
of Homestretch |
: |
90 feet (Main);
65 to 70 feet (Turf) |
| • Width
of Backstretch |
: |
70 feet (Main);
65 to 70 feet (Turf) |
| • Banking
on Turns |
: |
4.5 degrees
(Main) |
| • Banking
on Straight- aways |
: |
2.0 degrees
(Main) |
| • Distance
from Top of Stretch to Finish Line |
: |
1,030 feet
(both tracks) |
| • Distance
from Finish Line to Clubhouse Turn |
: |
360 feet
(both tracks) |
| • Fences |
: |
Fontana safety
rail (Main); Fixed rail and hedge (Turf) |
| • Chutes |
: |
6 furlongs
and 1 1/4 miles (Main) |
| 2 Furlongs |
Adriano's Girl |
2 |
120 |
:21 4/5 |
Jun. 4, 1997 |
| 4 Furlongs |
Crimson Streak |
2 |
120 |
:45 2/5 |
Apr. 6, 1970 |
| 4 1/2 Furlongs |
Lovely Gypsy |
2 |
116 |
:51 4/5 |
May 7, 1965 |
| - |
Happy Voter |
2 |
118 |
:51 4/5 |
May 16, 1966 |
| 5 Furlongs |
Rene Depot |
3 |
124 |
:57 2/5 |
Jun. 25, 1972 |
| 5 1/2 Furlongs |
Cocopet |
2 |
113 |
1:04 3/5 |
Jul. 17, 1943 |
| - |
Stage Trick |
7 |
115 |
1:04 3/5 |
Jan. 14, 2001 |
| - |
The Way Holme |
6 |
123 |
1:04 3/5 |
Mar. 20, 2002 |
| 6 Furlongs |
Canal |
5 |
123 |
1:08 1/5 |
May 16, 1966 |
| One Mile |
Back Bay Brave |
5 |
115 |
1:35 1/5 |
Jul. 12, 1986 |
| One Mile & 70 Yards |
**Half Breed |
6 |
115 |
1:40 |
May 23, 1964 |
| - |
**Half An Hour |
7 |
117 |
1:40.10 |
Jan. 22, 1997 |
| 1 1/16 Miles |
Talent Show |
7 |
122 |
1:41 4/5 |
May 12, 1962 |
| - |
Bear The Palm |
3 |
112 |
1:41 4/5 |
Jul. 3, 1977 |
| 1 1/8 Miles |
Skip Away |
5 |
130 |
1:47 27 |
May, 30 1998 |
| 1 3/16 Miles |
Shut Out |
3 |
126 |
1:55 2/5 |
Jul. 4, 1942 |
| 1 1/4 Miles |
Helioscope |
4 |
112 |
2:01 |
May 19, 1955 |
| 1 1/2 Miles |
Connie Rab |
6 |
113 |
2:30 3/5 |
May 15, 1954 |
| 1 5/8 Miles |
Count Fire |
4 |
126 |
2:45 2/5 |
Jun. 23, 1962 |
| 1 3/4 Miles |
Toulouse |
6 |
126 |
2:58 2/5 |
Jun. 16, 1956 |
| Two Miles |
Hutch |
9 |
113 |
3:35 2/5 |
Aug. 1, 1950 |
| Two Miles & 70 Yards |
On The Square |
5 |
119 |
3:39 4/5 |
Apr. 16, 1973 |
| 2 1/16 Miles |
Bold Fencer |
6 |
114 |
3:35 4/5 |
Apr. 18, 1983 |
| 2 1/4 Miles |
Fundy Bay |
6 |
117 |
3:54 1/5 |
Dec. 9, 1973 |
| About 5 Furlongs |
Bishop Ridley |
7 |
118 |
:57 1/5 |
Jul. 19, 1987 |
| - |
Concorde Cal |
4 |
116 |
:57 1/5 |
Oct. 30, 1994 |
| About 7 1/2 Furlongs |
Times Ahead |
6 |
116 |
1:32 2/5 |
Sep. 3, 1988 |
| About One Mile |
I'm A Handful |
5 |
116 |
1:39 2/5 |
Sep. 4, 1983 |
| - |
Shananie's Dancer |
5 |
113 |
1:39 2/5 |
Jun. 10, 1995 |
| About One Mile & 70 Yds. |
**Darn Special |
6 |
113 |
1:42.44 |
May 31, 1997 |
| - |
**Nasello |
5 |
119 |
1:42.58 |
May 29, 1999 |
| About One Mile & 1/16 |
**Landing Court |
6 |
116 |
1:44 4/5 |
Oct. 26, 1994 |
| - |
**Tresoriere |
4 |
114 |
1:44.93 |
May 30, 1998 |
| About 1 3/8 Miles |
*Graybrook Swan |
5 |
110 |
2:20 4/5 |
Jul. 18, 1970 |
| - |
*Chompion |
5 |
108 |
2:20 4/5 |
Jul. 18, 1970 |
| About 1 1/2 Miles |
Akbar Khan |
5 |
120 |
2:30 3/5 |
Jun. 17, 1957 |
| About 1 15/16 Miles |
Jamf |
9 |
112 |
3:11 1/5 |
Jul. 4, 1975 |
| About 2 Miles |
Jean Pierre |
5 |
113 |
3:19 1/5 |
Jun. 28, 1969 |
- Pari-mutuel wagering was legalized in Massachusetts.
- On July 10, Suffolk
Downs opened to a crowd of 35,000.
- On August 10,
a total of 52,726 fans attended the races, the largest officially recorded
crowd at Suffolk Downs.
- On October 16, the Massachusetts
Handicap was born.
- On August 7, the legendary Seabiscuit bested a field of 12 others
in the third running of the Massachusetts Handicap.
- On August 12, Suffolk Downs donated $625,000 to the National War Fund,
the single largest contribution by any sports venue in support of the war effort.
Six weeks later, the track donated an additional $10,885.
- The first day of the 1948 meet attracted 35,529 fans, the largest
Opening Day crowd ever.
- On May 16, Canal blazed six furlongs in 1:08 1/5, setting a track
record that has yet to be equaled.
- On August 18, the Beatles played to over 25,000 fans at Suffolk Downs.
- The final harness racing meet was held at Suffolk Downs. The track
had been hosting trotters and pacers since 1959.
- On the last race of the final day of the year, Great Combination,
Dawn's Count and Needachant cannot be separated at the finish wire, registering
the track's first and only triple dead heat.
- On December 31, Nick Petro became the winningest apprentice rider
in the country with 253 tallies on the year.
- An enormous reconstruction project transformed Suffolk Downs into
a vibrant and thriving facility.
- On June 3, the Massachusetts Handicap (MassCap) returned from a six-year
hiatus. The country's top horse, Cigar, made the $250,000 feature his eighth
straight victory, and captured a $500,000 bonus in the process.
- On June 1, Cigar cruised home easily in the 57th MassCap to the delight
of 22,169 ecstatic patrons who pounded the champ to 1-10 favoritism.
- On May 31, Suffolk Downs hosted New England's first $1 million racing
day, offering a total of six stakes on the 58th MassCap card.
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