The 2010 live racing season at Suffolk Downs begins May 15, and will consist of 101 racing days, the track announced April 22.
Opening day for the track’s 75th season is scheduled for Preakness day this year instead of Kentucky Derby Day, when the track usually opens. First post time on opening day is 1:15 p.m. EST.
“As more and more of the New England horsemen and horses winter in Florida, Delaware and Pennsylvania where purses are enhanced due to expanded gaming, extending our opening for even a couple weeks makes it easier for us to get top quality horses to return here,” said Chip Tuttle, Suffolk Downs’ chief operating officer.
After the May 15 opening, live racing will be held Wednesdays and Saturdays for the remainder of the month of May. Starting Memorial Day, May 31, Suffolk will conduct a Monday through Wednesday and Saturday racing schedule until the conclusion of the meet on Nov. 13. First race post time will be 12:45 p.m.
Suffolk downs will be hosting a Derby party May 1. In addition to the standard simulcast areas, fans will be able to watch the Derby and other races on large outdoor television screens as part of a festival featuring live bands and an assortment of food and beverages.
For the start of the 2010 racing season, Suffolk Downs projects average daily overnight purses of $90,000. The track will announce its 2010 stakes program in the coming weeks.
