Suffolk Downs Purse Increase
The stables at Suffolk Downs opened on the 28th of March 2008 and training sessions were in full swing by the end of the day on the 1st of April 2008. A month of preparation and planning will be put to the test as the 2008 racing season at Suffolk Downs kicks into high gear on 3 May 2008. And this year is full of surprises, purse increases and facility improvements. It seems that Suffolk Downs knows exactly how to lure the best horses back each year and to keep spectators happy.
In 2007, Suffolk Downs came under new ownership and immediately saw an increase of twelve percent to all purses. This year, the racecourse has implemented a five percent purse increase and hopes to improve on the twenty-two percent increase in attendance that was experienced last year. Even the smaller races, such as allowance races, maiden races and claiming races were given purse increases, with special maiden weight races now having a purse of $17 300. In general, these races have been given a raise of $300.
The jam-packed racing schedule for the season includes big races such as the $100 000 James B. Moseley Sprint Handicap, seven $50 000 stakes racing events and the $500 000 Massachusetts Handicap. The MassCap will be held on 20 May 2008 and it is a racing event that forms part of the Breeders Cup Challenge and is the qualifying race. The winning horse of the MassCap, will therefore be automatically entered in the 25 October $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is a group one event. Other horse racing events to make note of during the season includes the racing action on Labor Day 1 September, twilight Fridays in June, July and August, and Memorial Day racing. The horse racing season for Suffolk Downs will end on 8 November 2008.
Once the racing season comes to an end, Suffolk Downs will start the renovations that they have planned for the track surface and are in the process of relocating the Equiciser Machine to the stable area. Even though horsemen will be pleasantly surprised with the improvement to the stable area, such as the rewiring of six barns, new linens, refurbishment of the restrooms and dormitories, there are plans for new feed rooms that will be ready for the 2009 season. With continuous improvements and the increasing of purses, Suffolk Downs has secured its place as a favorite horse racing facility and a popular racetrack for spectators.
