East Boston, MA — Suffolk Downs will host the fourth and final live racing and food truck festival weekend of the year this Saturday and Sunday, September 15-16.
On Saturday, the average field size is 12 horses per race and 133 total horses have been entered for the day which features eleven races, seven of which have been carded on the turf.
The featured race is a $25,000 allowance optional claiming race that carries a purse of $50,000 and will be run at about a mile and seventy yards on the turf. That race has drawn a field of ten with three contenders listed as also-eligible. New England Hall of Fame trainer Ned Allard will send out Hills Pond for longtime owner Charles Matses. Tammi Piermarini, one of the most decorated riders in Suffolk Downs history, has been named to ride the three-year-old son of First Samurai. Piermarini is closing in on 2,500 career victories – she is currently at 2,495 with three mounts scheduled at Finger Lakes on Thursday and she is named on nine horses on Saturday’s overnight at Suffolk Downs.
Over the course of the weekend, there will be three races restricted to horses foaled in Massachusetts.
The track will also continue the $5,000 Jockey Challenge for the fourth weekend. The jockeys will be awarded points based on the their finish position in a race with six points for finishing 1st, five points for 2nd, four points for 3rd, three points for 4th and two points for 5th. For any finish between 6th and last place, one point will be awarded. At the end of the weekend, the three jockeys that accumulate most points will be awarded a cash bonus of $2000 for 1st, $1500 for 2nd, $1000 for 3rd and $500 for 4th. Dylan Davis took home the top prize in June, Pedro Monterrey, Jr. got top honors in July and Erik Barbaran led the standings in August.
Post time for the 11 race card is at 12:35 p.m. and gates open at 11:00 a.m. In addition to live racing, the track will be hosting a food truck festival featuring food trucks from numerous local vendors, craft beer, live music and family fun activities.
Live racing will continue on Sunday with 11 races.