For Immediate Release Contact:
May 30, 2012 Christian Teja, (857) 231-6788
cteja@suffolkdowns.com
SUFFOLK DOWNS’ 2012 LIVE RACING SEASON BEGINS THIS SATURDAY
NBC’s voice of the Triple Crown Larry Collmus returns to Suffolk Downs
for guest appearance on Opening Day
EAST BOSTON, MA - Suffolk Downs will open its 2012 live racing season this Saturday with a guest appearance by NBC’s voice of the Triple Crown Larry Collmus, who served as track announcer at the East Boston oval from 1992-2008. First post time for the nine-race program is 12:45 p.m.
Collmus, who will be calling the Belmont Stakes on June 9 when I’ll Have Another attempts to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, will return to the Suffolk Downs announcer’s booth for the first time since 2008 to call a pair of races on the Opening Day card. Prior to making his way to the booth, Collmus will be available from 1-2 p.m. for a meet and greet with fans. T.D. Thornton returns for his fifth full year as track announcer after previously splitting time with Collmus.
On Opening Day, family fun activities will be taking place near the playground on the Grandstand apron. A silent auction featuring racing and Boston sports memorabilia will be conducted on the first floor of the Grandstand from 2-4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the track’s Thoroughbred retirement efforts.
Opening Day will be followed by a pair of three-day race weeks (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday) before adding Tuesdays to create a four-day schedule through the end of September. As of October 1, the schedule would return to a three-day week through the conclusion of the meet on Monday, October 29. As it did last year, the track is awaiting approval of legislation to reduce the number of racing days required to offer simulcasting from 100 to 80. This proposal was reported out of committee favorably on Thursday, May 3.
Suffolk Downs will continue to honor individuals and groups who have made a positive impact in the local community through its “Community Winner’s Circle” program. On Opening Day, the track will recognize Paul Antonino of Wakefield, who on April 1 entered a burning building on Chelsea St. in East Boston to alert residents of a fire that was raging above them and assist elderly residents in escaping the building safely. The track will also recognize Generations Incorporated for its programs in East Boston and Revere in which older adults volunteer their time to assist children in need of literacy tutoring.
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