Pair say Suffolk Downs sale reached
Officials mum but talks ‘furthest along’
A state lawmaker and a union official say they believe a deal has been reached to sell Suffolk Downs — but track officials are mum and no details have been made public.
State Rep. Adrian Madaro and the president of the union of horsemen who race at Suffolk told the Herald yesterday they have learned an agreement has been reached.
“It’s my understanding there is” a purchase-and-sale agreement, Madaro said. “I’m not sure if it’s been signed yet. ... This is the furthest along in discussions of anything moving on that site since the whole casino debate was put to rest. That signals to me that something is real here.”
Suffolk Downs Chief Operating Officer Chip Tuttle said yesterday he “can’t confirm or deny” a purchase-and-sale has been reached, but said the track has been fielding interest from potential buyers dating to as long as nine months ago.
Anthony Spadea, president of the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, whose members race at Suffolk Downs, said Tuttle told him in a recent meeting that a deal was in place.
“He told us he had a purchase-and-sale agreement signed — he made us all aware of it,” Spadea said.
The horsemen were looped in because they need to know if they will be able to conduct races on the property as planned this year.
Spadea and Tuttle said that regardless of the progress of a sale, races and simulcasts are expected to take place at Suffolk Downs through this year and next.
“Even if a deal happens, it would be for the property and we would continue to hold a racing simulcast license for the short term,” Tuttle said.
The horsemen are looking to build a new “equine center” for races and other functions in the Worcester area, and are seeking permission to use money from the race horse development fund set up by the state’s 2011 law legalizing casinos.
Suffolk Downs, a onceiconic racetrack, has been much sought-after since a planned Mohegan Sun casino lost a bid for the sole Greater Boston casino license in 2014 to Wynn Resorts, which is constructing a $2 billion gaming resort in Everett.
Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo said he’s watching the future of the property closely.
“If there is definitive movement toward a sale of Suffolk Downs, I trust that current ownership will be bringing in a world-class outfit to develop the site,” Arrigo said in a statement.
Added Rep. Madaro, “It’s really incumbent on all of us in East Boston, whoever the developer is, to hold their feet to the fire and make sure that East Boston residents have a seat at the table.”