Suffolk Downs Announces New Date For Final Races

BOSTON (CBS) – Suffolk Downs officials announced Tuesday they have pushed back the final day of live horse racing to give supporters a chance one last trip to the track that is likely closing for good following last week's casino license decision.

The track was initially scheduled to close for the season on Monday, Sept. 29. But due to what track officials called public interest and the desire to provide an extra week of work to seasonal employees, the final day of the year is now set for Saturday, Oct. 4.

That will likely be the final day of racing ever at Suffolk Downs, which vowed this would be its final season if a gaming license for the eastern portion of the state was not awarded to Mohegan Sun.

Instead, last week Wynn Resorts was instead awarded the license for its plan to build a casino in Everett.

"There has been an outpouring of support since last week's events and we felt that it would be more fitting to have the last day of racing here on a Saturday than on a weekday to give more people a chance to take part in a fitting celebration of the end of an era here," said Suffolk Downs chief operating officer Chip Tuttle.

The 79-year-old track plans to continue simulcasting races until December.

Track officials previously said that about 1,000 employees were likely to lose their jobs when Suffolk Downs closes.

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