If you are a horse racing fan living in Massachusetts or someone who’s traveling there, you’re probably wondering whether horse racing still exists here. The Bay State has a long history with the sport, but in recent years, things have gone from bad to worse.
So, is there live horse racing in Massachusetts? Well, yes, but the situation is a bit complicated. Over the last decade, we’ve seen big racetracks in Massachusetts that closed their doors forever, but the horse racing scene hasn’t completely disappeared. It has changed.
The sad truth is that horse racing was a sport that was thriving in Massachusetts, but the glamorous scene evolved into empty grandstands and something a lot quieter and more restrained.
The Golden Days of Racing in Massachusetts
As we mentioned before, Massachusetts was home to some legendary racetracks like Suffolk Downs in East Boston. This racetrack opened in 1935 and was once a popular place for thoroughbred racing, attracting crowds in tens of thousands.
For decades, it hosted top races, drew famous jockeys and horses from all around the world, and became part of Boston’s sports culture. This was a beautiful track that was built by Joseph A. Tomasello and cost around $2 million back then, so it was an extremely expensive project.
But after the track closed due to a failed casino deal, it was sold to a new owner in 2017, and although the race operated until 2019, the new owner wants to create housing and a shopping district.
So, which racetrack survived? Well, Massachusetts only has one live racetrack at the moment, but not for thoroughbred horse racing, but for harness racing. We are talking about the Plainridge Park Casino. It might be only home for harness racing, but the track itself is beautiful. It’s an oval-shaped turf with a lake in the middle.
Therefore, if you are into horse racing betting and watching live horse racing events, this is the only spot you can do that in Massachusetts. But this shouldn’t stop you from betting online, right? So, if you are a handicapper looking for live races to bet on, you should check out TwinSpires. You’re not watching the races in person (unless you choose to travel), but the live stream should be good enough.
On top of that, they organize tournaments for handicappers, so you can show off your skills. To learn more, click the link here: https://www.twinspires.com/tournaments/
Basically, the horse racing scene in Massachusetts is on life support at the moment. The economics of live horse racing began to falter a few decades ago. Competition from casinos, changing entertainment habits, and rising costs made it hard for racetracks to survive.
What’s Left Today
Sorry to all horse racing fans, but thoroughbred horse racing no longer takes place in Massachusetts. The only option is to watch live thoroughbred races online.
As we mentioned before, the only track that has live races is the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville. This racetrack hosts harness races under strict licensing and supervision. The events here a low-key, where a couple of hundred spectators come to watch them, nothing too spectacular.
The good news is that simulcast wagering keeps fans connected to the global horse racing scene.
The Role of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission
Should we blame the Massachusetts Gaming Commission’s Division of Racing for the current state of horse racing? Well, they plan to play an important role in keeping the framework of horse racing intact. They are responsible for licensing, regulating, and ensuring fair practices.
However, they are not in charge of running the racetrack business. The good news is that they allow a new thoroughbred racetrack, and if there is a brave multi-millionaire who wants to invest, they are open to handing him a license.
But the chances of that happening are really small.
Could Live Horse Racing Ever Return?
We’d love to hype you up with a new state-of-the-art racetrack like Churchill Downs, or probably a horse racing event like the Kentucky Derby, which will bring thousands of spectators every year, but sadly, there is no official plan to revive thoroughbred racing right now.
This doesn’t mean that it won’t happen in the future, especially since laws and regulatory structures already support horse racing and haven’t been dismantled.
However, bringing back thoroughbred horse racing will involve a lot of money, local government support, and community interest. Lastly, if there aren’t enough people who are interested in horse racing, it will never be revived.
The only decent thoroughbred horse racing track that Massachusetts had is now being turned into houses and shopping centers, and it is one of the largest real estate projects in Boston’s history.
Why Racing Faded Away
The big question is, how can the thoroughbred industry vanish like that? It makes it even more surprising since other places in the U.S, where the popularity of horse racing has increased.
So, what caused it to decline? Well, it wasn’t just one thing. When casinos entered the scene, the online entertainment industry exploded, which introduced new ways to gamble and socialize.
On top of that, maintaining a large racetrack is only profitable and makes sense if there is at least 1 big event attracting thousands of spectators. Otherwise, racetracks like Suffolk Downs couldn’t justify the losses.
But the world is strange, and let’s keep our fingers crossed for the thoroughbred revival in Massachusetts.
Photo Credit: Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0, Course trot Vincennes, CC BY-SA 3.0
