Suffolk Downs faces finish line after vote

Thoroughbred racing at

Suffolk Downs is likely to cease this fall after the Massachusetts Gaming

Commission on Tuesday voted 3-1 to approve a $1.6 billion Wynn Resorts casino

north of the Boston-area track.

Suffolk Downs had aligned itself with Mohegan Sun, whose proposed $1.3

billion casino would have been located on racetrack property. The owners of

Suffolk Downs made commitments to the continuation of live racing at the track

if the Mohegan Sun plan were approved.

"We are extraordinarily disappointed as this action is likely to cost the

Commonwealth (of Massachusetts) thousands of jobs, small business and family

farms," said Chip Tuttle, chief operating officer of Suffolk Downs.

"We will be meeting with employees and horsemen over the next several days to

talk about how we wind down racing operations as a 79-year legacy of

Thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts will be coming to an end, resulting in

unemployment and uncertainty for many hard-working people," Tuttle said.

The 2014 Suffolk Downs meet is scheduled to conclude September 29.

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