It’s off to the Races at Suffolk Downs Opening Day Festivities

Female riders dominated the Opening Day card at Suffolk Downs, combining to win five of the nine races before an enthusiastic crowd of 7,377 on hand to celebrate the start of the 2013 live racing season and honor members of the community who served in the immediate aftermath of the Boston Marathon tragedy.

Andria Terrill began the day with a front running score aboard Gesu ($21.20) for trainer Jay Bernardini. She was back in the winner’s circle in the third race after guiding BL’s Wagon ($10.00) to a maiden victory for John Bagnera, Jr.  Terrill is in her second season at Suffolk Downs after finishing fourth in the standings in 2012.

Tammi Piermarini, who took home leading rider honors for the third consecutive year last season, started the season off strong with a pair winners on the card. She earned her first victory of the season in the second race aboard favorite Broadway Hat ($2.60) for David Jacobson. In the sixth race, she guided Elusive Son ($3.60) to a debut victory for trainer Christophe Clement.

Also on the card, Jacqueline Davis teamed up with Matthew Clarke for a win with This One’s For Nina ($14.80). Last year, Davis finished second in the jockey standings.

Between the sixth and seventh races, Suffolk Downs honored members of the City of Boston Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Departments and North Metro SWAT, which includes members of the Revere Police Department, as part of its Community Winner’s Circle program.  The honorees all served in the immediate aftermath of the Marathon bombings.

Suffolk Downs encouraged patrons to contribute to The One Fund Boston, offering them a specially designed “Boston Strong” hat or t-shirt and a track program with a $10 donation to the fund.  During the presentation, Suffolk Downs and its partners at Caesars Entertainment presented a check in the amount of $75,000 to the One Fund.

To begin the day, members of the East Boston High School Jr. ROTC presented the colors for the national anthem, which was performed by bugler Richard Garrick.

Live racing resumes Monday and will be conducted every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday through the first week of July, which will also include a special live card on Thursday, July 4th. The following week, Tuesdays will be added to create a four-day schedule (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday) through the first week of October. The track will then return to a three-day week with Tuesdays dark through Monday, October 29 and the meet will conclude on Saturday, November 2 to coincide with the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.  As it did the last two years, the track is awaiting approval of legislation to reduce the number of racing days required to offer simulcasting from 100 to 80.

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