T.D. Thornton’s Not by a Longshot: A Season at a Hard-Luck Horse Track depicts Suffolk Downs as a gritty, marginal track struggling to survive, with a few moments of redemption and glory to keep people going; as I read the book, I nearly always pictured race days occurring under metal-grey, chilly skies, an empty grandstand…
In 2005, I spent the day of the Whitney on the beach in Massachusetts, visiting friends from my time in London who have no interest in horse racing. Much as I enjoyed the weekend, I’ve never quite gotten over missing Commentator’s thrilling win over St. Liam that afternoon. Watching a horse win by multiple lengths…
“Abandon every hope, who enter here.” So is Dante warned, as he approaches the entrance to Hell. So, too, are we warned as we approach the entrance to Suffolk Downs: Much more to come, on Commentator, the MassCap, and a terrific day spent at Suffolk Downs…
Brooklyn is looking northward, both literally and figuratively, as we head into this MassCap weekend; a former denizen of Boston and its environs, I’m making my maiden voyage to Suffolk Downs this weekend, feeling slightly guilty for making my first visit on a Big Race Day. Railbird and I had all good intentions of an…
I love this photo of Evening Attire on his way to the track at Saratoga. He was fourth in the MassCap yesterday at Suffolk, and even though he hasn’t won a race since last March, I love that he’s still out there. Thanks to the folks at Alex Brown Racing for bringing this article from…
Brooklyn Backstretch 