History
Suffolk Downs opened in July 1935 on the East Boston-Revere line. Its Massachusetts Handicap quickly became a major race, and Seabiscuit won it in 1937 before a crowd of about 40,000.
The track also served as an event space: the Beatles played its infield in August 1966. Its prominence faded in later decades, and it shut briefly at the end of 1989 before reopening under new ownership in 1992.
After the property was sold to HYM Investment Group in 2017, live racing ended on June 30, 2019 before a crowd of more than 12,000. The building stayed open for simulcast wagering into at least 2022.
The 161-acre site is being redeveloped over two decades into a district planned for about 10,000 homes plus offices and labs. The first apartment building opened in 2024, and the old oval now serves as a walking and running track.
Why it matters: Massachusetts' last Thoroughbred track and the scene of landmark moments from Seabiscuit to the Beatles.
Timeline
- July 10, 1935Opening[1]
The track opened in East Boston.
- October 16, 1935First Massachusetts Handicap[1]
Top Row won the first MassCap, which became the track's signature race.
- 1937Seabiscuit wins the MassCap[1]
Seabiscuit set a track record for 1 1/8 miles before about 40,000 fans.
- August 18, 1966Beatles concert[1]
The Beatles played to about 24,000 fans in the infield.
- May 2017Sold to HYM[1]
HYM Investment Group bought the property for $155 million for redevelopment.
- June 30, 2019
More than 12,000 fans attended the last day of live racing; Colonial Front was the last horse across the line.
- October 7, 2024
Amaya, the first residential building of the redevelopment, opened in Revere.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed[5] |
|---|---|
| Current use | Multi-decade housing, office and lab redevelopment by HYM Investment Group; the old racing oval is now a running/walking track (The Track) and The Stage at Suffolk Downs concert venue operates inside it[1,3,4] |
| Surviving remnants | The racing oval survives as a walking/running track. The grandstand was still standing and used for simulcast wagering as of 2022; its current condition is not verified.[3,5] |
| Mapped location | Approximate historic location |
Venue facts
| Location | 525 McClellan Highway, East Boston, Massachusetts (site extends into Revere; about 161 acres), East Boston, Massachusetts[1] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Racetrack |
| Sports | Horse racing |
| Level | Thoroughbred |
| Opened | July 10, 1935[1,6] |
| Last used for sports | June 30, 2019[1,2] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed[5] |
| Capacity notes | No racetrack capacity found; the 1937 MassCap drew about 40,000 and 60,000 attended in 1938. |
| Owner / operator | Sterling Suffolk Racecourse LLC (from 1992); sold to HYM Investment Group in May 2017[1] |
| Closure | The property was sold for large-scale redevelopment; live racing ended in 2019. |
Documented details
Sources
- Suffolk Downs, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, closed, coordinates, current land use, events, opened, owner operator
- Racing ends at Suffolk Downs, The Daily Item (Lynn). Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: closed, events
- First apartment complex at Suffolk Downs opens, Boston.com. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: current land use, events, remnants
- Suffolk Downs housing breaks ground, The Boston Globe. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: current land use, events
- Suffolk Downs Burns as Boston Firefighters Respond to Six-Alarm Blaze, Casino.org. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: physical status, remnants
- After 84 years, Suffolk Downs celebrates final live races, Worcester Business Journal. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: opened
Research confidence
Some facts on this page rely on a single source or are still being corroborated. Treat specific dates and figures with care. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
See something wrong or missing? Suggest a correction or submit a source.