John Kirby, an owner, breeder, and trainer in New England for nearly 50 years, died Dec. 29 at the age of 85.
Saturday, January 07, 2012In a move needed to get the final version of an expanded gambling bill to the desk of the governor before its winter break, the Massachusetts legislature approved a bill that cuts revenue to horse racing.
Thursday, November 17, 2011The Massachusetts legislature Nov. 16 passed a bill authorizing casinos in the state, and Gov. Deval Patrick is expected to sign it.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Suffolk Downs will offer its richest stakes since 2008 on Oct. 22 amid a sense of optimism brought about by passage of legislation that gives it a chance to be awarded a license for a resort casino.
Friday, October 21, 2011Massachusetts is on the fast track to expand gambling after the State Senate passed a bill Oct. 13 authorizing three destination resort casinos and one slots facility.
Thursday, October 13, 2011An amendment to eliminate a slot-machine facility that would dedicate 9% of gross revenue to the horse racing industry in Massachusetts as part of expanded gambling legislation was killed in the Senate Oct. 6.
Friday, October 07, 2011On the heels of a new poll that revealed 56% of Massachusetts residents favor the expansion of gambling, state senators on Sept. 26 opened debate on a bill that has already passed the House by an overwhelming margin.
Monday, September 26, 2011
The top Republican lawmaker in the Massachusetts Senate is hoping revenue from expanded gambling will be used to lower taxes.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
The fall schedule at Suffolk Downs will include higher purses, two additional four-day race weeks, and the running of the $100,000 Robert M. O'Malley Sprint Stakes.
Thursday, September 22, 2011The State of Massachusetts took a major step toward expanding gambling on the night of Sept. 14 after the House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize three destination resort casinos and one slot machine facility.
Thursday, September 15, 2011A bill allowing for three resort casinos and a slots-only facility has widespread support in the legislature. Suffolk Downs is seen as the front runner for one of the gaming licenses.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Mass., to resume live racing after being closed Aug. 29-30 due to the weekend's tropical depression.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Although Tropical Storm Irene has left the area, several East Coast tracks are still impacted by the storm that began as a hurricane and was later downgraded before rolling through the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Monday, August 29, 2011The horse racing industry in Massachusetts would get a much-needed shot in the arm according to the terms of a new expanded gambling bill filed by legislators Aug. 23.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Jockey Tammi Piermarini became the fifth female rider in Thoroughbred racing history to reach the 2,000 win mark when she won the third race at Suffolk Downs Aug. 22 aboard Sugar Trade.
Monday, August 22, 2011Veteran jockey Jorge Vargas recorded his 3,000th career victory Aug. 8 at Suffolk Downs when his mount Want Ad was elevated via disqualification to win the fourth race of the afternoon.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed into law the bill passed by both houses of the legislature to extend simulcasting in the state.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Suffolk Downs, which had been racing only three days per week during the current meet, will now card live racing four days per week. The schedule change is a result of passage of a bill in the Massachusetts legislature.
Thursday, July 28, 2011Massachusetts House approves bill to reduce racing days and extend simulcasting.
Thursday, July 21, 2011Massachusetts legislation allows simulcasting to continue.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011The expansion of gambling is back on the front burner in Massachusetts as key legislators and the governor work to settle their differences and draft a compromise bill that could be passed as early as July.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
After an insufficient number of entries forced the cancellation of live racing on May 25, Suffolk Downs was able to card eight races for Saturday, May 28 and live racing is back on schedule.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Citing an insufficient number of entries, Suffolk Downs has canceled the Wednesday, May 25 live racing card. The day will be restored at a date to be determined later in the meet.
Monday, May 23, 2011Putting aside disagreements between management and horseman, Suffolk Downs lifted the curtain on its 2011 racing season May 21.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
The 2011 live racing season at Suffolk Downs, featuring increased purses from a year ago, will begin Saturday, May 21. The meet runs through Nov. 5.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011Suffolk Downs has entered into what it terms a "strategic alliance" with Caesars Entertainment to bolster its chances of developing a destination resort casino should Massachusetts approved expanded gambling.
Thursday, April 14, 2011Discussions about expanding gambling in Massachusetts have been moved off the fast track as the governor and legislators now will make closing the state's $1-billion budget deficit their top priority.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Suffolk Downs, which negotiated a new contract with the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association calling for fewer live racing days in 2011, is now seeking the legislative relief to make that possible.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
After six weeks of intense negotiations on a new contract, the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Suffolk Downs finally sealed a two-year agreement late in the day March 4.
Friday, March 04, 2011The NEHBPA and Suffolk Downs have reached an agreement in principal for a 2011 contract and the deal is expected to be sealed March 2, according to the general counsel for the horsemen.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
The general counsel for the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said the afternoon of Feb. 28 negotiations have reached the "sink or swim" point on a contract resolution for 2011.
Monday, February 28, 2011
The New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and Suffolk Downs have still not struck a deal on a 2011 contract.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association rejected the latest proposal from Suffolk Downs on the night of Feb. 24.
Friday, February 25, 2011
There is a Feb. 25 deadline looming in the 2011 contract dispute between Suffolk Downs and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Negotiations over a contract for 2011 between the New England Horsemen's and Benevolent Protective Association and Suffolk Downs are continuing, and the attorney for the horsemen said Feb. 22 there may be significant movement
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Suffolk Downs has threatened to shut down in March if the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and other chapters across the country do not restore simulcast signals by Feb. 26, according to a source.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Suffolk Downs and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association continued to negotiate Feb. 18 and indications are that the two sides are creeping closer to common ground on a contract for 2011.
Friday, February 18, 2011Executives with the Boston area track met with horsemen representatives Feb. 17. No proposals on the table some "some progress" is made.
Thursday, February 17, 2011The management of Suffolk Downs and the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association are headed back to the bargaining table to seek resolution on a new contract for 2011.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011Suffolk Downs announced its intention to conduct a live race meet in 2011, but wants simulcasting signals restored in a dispute with New England horsemen's group
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Suffolk Downs has reduced its simulcasting operation in the wake of the ongoing dispute with the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association over a contract for the 2011 live racing season.
Monday, February 14, 2011The battle between Suffolk Downs and the New England HBPA over a 2011 contract took a turn for the worse Feb. 10 when the racetrack threatened legal action against the horsemen and demanded they remove their office trailers.
Thursday, February 10, 2011The New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association was prepared to offer a counterproposal to the management of Suffolk Downs Feb. 9 in an attempt to get back to the bargaining table and end their dispute.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011While the New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association board of directors held a closed door meeting the night of Feb. 8, others were feeling the fallout from the ongoing and bitter dispute with Suffolk Downs.
Tuesday, February 08, 2011The horsemen in Oregon have joined the list of groups supporting the New England chapter of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association as dispute over a 2011 live racing contract at Suffolk Downs continues.
Monday, February 07, 2011While the management of Suffolk Downs and horsemen remain locked in a bitter stalemate over a new contract for live racing in 2011, Florida horsemen and the Ohio HBPA have pulled their signals in support.
Saturday, February 05, 2011
While the New England HBPA and Suffolk Downs remain at a bitter impasse over a contract for live racing in 2011, the attorney for the horsemen said Feb. 1 he is looking into options to race elsewhere.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
The New England Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association says its decision to block simulcasts of the New York Racing Association to Suffolk Downs is due primarily to a dispute over revenues.
Monday, January 31, 2011The New England chapter of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has withdrawn its consent for races from the New York Racing Association to be simulcast at Suffolk Downs.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Suffolk Downs has been given approval to simulcast dog racing by the Massachusetts State Racing Commission, which recently issued a decision to allow the shuttered Wonderland Greyhound Park to transfer its license.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
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