THE MALDEN ADVOCATE – Friday, July 5, 2019 Page 15 Huge crowd for Suffolk Downs send-off E AST BOSTON – Over 21,000 racing fans packed Suffolk Downs as the track hosted its final weekend of live racing at the historic oval. On Saturday the track was forced to suspend the live racing card after the seventh race due to severe thunderstorms that rolled through the area. Live racing resumed on Sunday with 12 races and brought out 12,311 fans despite passing storms early in the day. “It was very gratifying to give live racing a fitting sendoff, and we are amazed by what a wonderful and appreciative crowd showed up today to celebrate with us. We want to thank all the fans, our dedicated workforce, the horsemen and women who shipped in for the weekend and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s racing personnel who helped us with these festivals,” said COO Chip Tuttle of Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC (SSR) the company that operates racing and simulcasting at Suffolk Downs. “Now we are looking forward to what’s next and, hopefully, continuing Thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts next year at the Great Barrington Fairgrounds.” Tammi Piermarini, the thirdall-time-leading female rider in history and a mainstay in New England racing, piloted home Saint Alfred in the $50,000 Thomas F. Moran Stakes for trainer Karl Grusmark and Joseph DiRico, the owner and breeder of the five-year-old Massachusetts-bred son of Dubwho also won the third race aboard longshot Morgan’s Z Va ($30.60) for M. Anthony Ferraro and the eighth race for the Matthew Clarke–trained Fifty Eight O G ($24.60). Following the final live racing weekend on June 29-30, the track will remain open yearround for simulcasting. SSR is working with the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, Inc. and the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association on plans to return live racing to the Great Barrington Fairgrounds in Great Barrington, Mass., and to continue simulcasting operations in Boston. Kevin Gomez was the jockey for Charlie Mops, which placed first in the sixth race. lin. Piermarini also teamed up with Jay Bernardini to win the sixth race with longshot Shackleson ($20.80). “It means a lot to be able to win a race on the final day of live racing here, and it was even sweeter to get to do it for two local trainers,” said Piermarini. “I have so many wonderful memories here, and Suffolk Downs will always feel like home.” Successful Saint, a homebred for owner Anthony Zizza, remained undefeated from four starts with an authoritative score in the $50,000 John Kirby Stakes with Jose Baez in the irons. The three-year-old gelded son of Successful Appeal is now fourfor-four for trainer Dylan Clarke. The final race in the track’s 84year history was won in a maiden breaking score by Catauga County ($9.60) and jockey Andy Hernandez Sanchez. It was the third win of the day for Sanchez, About Suffolk Downs Built by 3,000 workers in just 62 days when Massachusetts authorized pari-mutuel wagering in 1935, the historic track has been a showcase for some of the most famous names in Thoroughbred racing history, including Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, John Henry, Cigar and Skip Away. For more information, visit www. suffolkdowns.com. Horses are shown running the seventh race as spectators take photos on Sunday. (Advocate Photos by Tara Vocino)
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