For Immediate Release
$5 Million Purse for MassCap at Suffolk Downs if Big Brown Faces Curlin in Battle of Unbeatens
EAST BOSTON, MA / June 5, 2008 / Suffolk Downs has announced that the purse for this year’s Massachusetts Handicap will be $5 million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and 2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Curlin remain unbeaten in 2008 and go on to start in the MassCap against one another. The $5 million would include a $1 million participation bonus for each.
The 66th MassCap, scheduled for Saturday, September 20, and contested at 1-1/8 miles, currently carries a purse of $500,000 and is one of five races in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge "Win and You’re In" Classic Division. The additional purse money would be funded by Coastal Development, LLC, a company controlled by Richard T. Fields, the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs.
"Big Brown and Curlin are regarded as the two best thoroughbreds in the world and racing fans would like nothing more than to see them go head to head," said Fields. "If they are to square off, we feel that a $5 million purse is a great incentive and what better place than at Suffolk Downs in the city of Boston, the sports capital of the world."
The purse would be $3 million if Big Brown wins the Triple Crown and both he and Curlin start the race but with one or both horses having suffered a defeat in 2008. The $3 million would include a $500,000 participation bonus for each.
Fields, Chairman of Coastal Development, LLC, who purchased his interest in Suffolk Downs in March of last year, was responsible for reviving the MassCap last September after a two-year absence. The race was won by Brass Hat.
The MassCap, first held in 1935 when the track opened, has a rich history. The list of MassCap winning horses includes Hall of Famers Seabiscuit, Whirlaway, Riva Ridge, Cigar and Skip Away. Jockeys George Woolf, Eddie Arcaro, Chris McCarron and Jerry Bailey, among other Hall of Fame riders, have all piloted MassCap winners.
About Suffolk Downs:
Suffolk Downs is New England’s preeminent thoroughbred racing venue. Founded in 1935, it has hosted Hall of Fame horses Seabiscuit, Whirlaway and Cigar, among others, and has been the site of performances by world-renowned entertainers, including the Beatles and Aerosmith. For additional information about Suffolk Downs, call (617) 567-3900 or visit www.suffolkdowns.com.
About Coastal Development:
Coastal Development, LLC is a privately held company based in New York City that specializes in financing and developing resort destinations, luxury hotels and gaming facilities. An affiliate of Coastal Development, LLC is also the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs racetrack in Boston, Massachusetts. For additional information about Coastal Development, LLC, visit www.coastaldevelopmentllc.com.
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Contact Info:
Christian Teja
(857) 231-6788, (617) 568-3288
cteja@suffolkdowns.com
Read an article in the New York Times about Richard Fields’ purse for the 2008 MassCap.
Read an article in Bloodhorse Magazine about Richard Fields’ purse in the MassCap of 2008.