Two applicants have applied for live horseracing licenses in Massachusetts. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Suffolk Downs, the historic racetrack that straddles Revere and East Boston, celebrated its final day of live horse races on Saturday.
After 79 years, the management of New England’s last remaining thoroughbred track, has indicated the operation is not financially viable. In fact, it has been operating in the red for several years. State House News Service has reported the track has lost about $47 million since 2007.
Suffolk Downs had pinned its hopes to a casino license and when the state gaming regulators opted for an Everett casino plan instead of Mohegan Sun’s plans for Suffolk Downs, it appeared to seal the horsetrack’s fate. Chief Operating Officer Chip Tuttle said at the time of the decision that it would mark the end of horsetrack racing in New England, adding that his team would be looking at ways to wind down the operation. He blasted the commission’s decision as a job-killer.
However, in recent days,The New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association filed an application with state authorities that would allow them to host live horse racing at the track. Whether the state regulators approve the application remains to be seen.
