Comments on: Horse Players Riot at Suffolk Downs, 1945 http://colinsghost.org/2009/12/horse-players-riot-at-suffolk-downs-1945.html Thoroughbred Racing History Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: ED D http://colinsghost.org/2009/12/horse-players-riot-at-suffolk-downs-1945.html/comment-page-1#comment-1850 ED D Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:37:29 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=161#comment-1850 I am so happy to see a posting from Tommy Meada's daughter. I grew up in Weymouth,got hooked on the fair circuit @ 12 years old and miss it so much. My first bet was on a 2/5 fave that ran out,(not T Maeda but Jose Pelez in the Irons) In today's politically correct world it would be hard to believe but the police chief's wife (mrs O) was our main source of placing wagers because she thought we always had good tips. My friend Danny's family was well off & well connected in town. We sold cokes,used paper route money,ran scams whatever we could to get bets in.On the final day you would never return the coke trays or any of the money to "The Duke". Tommy Meada was absolutely my favorite jock. There was nobody better at breaking on top than T Maeda. There were times when you'd be reading the Telegraph and see where he was brought in to ride a "hot horse" @ Liberty Bell or Suffolk or Rockingham that had to break on top to win. We cashed bets on Ray Pasquerelli, Eddie Marabona, Amos Martinez etc. but there was nothing better than T maeda whipping and banging coming out of the gate with the red #1 silk on some bet down chalk at "aout 5 furlongs". I am so happy to see a posting from Tommy Meada’s daughter. I grew up in Weymouth,got hooked on the fair circuit @ 12 years old and miss it so much.
My first bet was on a 2/5 fave that ran out,(not T Maeda but Jose Pelez in the Irons) In today’s politically correct world it would be hard to believe but the police chief’s wife (mrs O) was our main source of placing wagers because she thought we always had good tips. My friend Danny’s family was well off & well connected in town. We sold cokes,used paper route money,ran scams whatever we could to get bets in.On the final day you would never return the coke trays or any of the money to “The Duke”.
Tommy Meada was absolutely my favorite jock. There was nobody better at breaking on top than T Maeda. There were times when you’d be reading the Telegraph and see where he was brought in to ride a “hot horse” @ Liberty Bell or Suffolk or Rockingham that had to break on top to win. We cashed bets on Ray Pasquerelli, Eddie Marabona, Amos Martinez etc. but there was nothing better than T maeda whipping and banging coming out of the gate with the red #1 silk on some bet down chalk at “aout 5 furlongs”.

]]> By: Jack Blake http://colinsghost.org/2009/12/horse-players-riot-at-suffolk-downs-1945.html/comment-page-1#comment-688 Jack Blake Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:40:48 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=161#comment-688 I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was a young Kid(14) that Saturday afternoon and went to the track with my Mother and Father and as you described the riot it was just exactly what I saw from begining until we left. Once the burning started and I thought soldiers from fort Banks came to the track my folks decided it was time to leave and that was about 6:15. I remember Babe Rubinstien(?) yelling over the PA system there would be no last race if the rioters kept throwing glass on the track. It was really scary. but what a day. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was a young Kid(14) that Saturday afternoon and went to the track with my Mother and Father and as you described the riot it was just exactly what I saw from begining until we left. Once the burning started and I thought soldiers from fort Banks came to the track my folks decided it was time to leave and that was about 6:15. I remember Babe Rubinstien(?) yelling over the PA system there would be no last race if the rioters kept throwing glass on the track. It was really scary. but what a day.

]]> By: Jack Blake http://colinsghost.org/2009/12/horse-players-riot-at-suffolk-downs-1945.html/comment-page-1#comment-687 Jack Blake Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:39:49 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=161#comment-687 Thanks for the change to go back in time... Thanks for the change to go back in time…

]]> By: Jack Blake http://colinsghost.org/2009/12/horse-players-riot-at-suffolk-downs-1945.html/comment-page-1#comment-686 Jack Blake Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:37:08 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=161#comment-686 I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was a young Kid(14) that Saturday afternoon and went to the track with my Mother and Father and as you described the riot it was just exactly what I saw from begining until we left. Once the burning started and I thought soldiers from fort Banks came to the track my folks decided it was time to leave and that was about 6:15. I remember Babe Rubinstien(?) yelling over the PA system there would be no last race if the rioters kept throwing glass on the track. It was really scary. I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was a young Kid(14) that Saturday afternoon and went to the track with my Mother and Father and as you described the riot it was just exactly what I saw from begining until we left. Once the burning started and I thought soldiers from fort Banks came to the track my folks decided it was time to leave and that was about 6:15. I remember Babe Rubinstien(?) yelling over the PA system there would be no last race if the rioters kept throwing glass on the track. It was really scary.

]]> By: Kate Maeda-Buenrostro http://colinsghost.org/2009/12/horse-players-riot-at-suffolk-downs-1945.html/comment-page-1#comment-598 Kate Maeda-Buenrostro Sat, 13 Mar 2010 06:01:11 +0000 http://colinsghost.org/?p=161#comment-598 Hi Don, Every once in awhile I google my Dad and I was happy to see your memories. Just a lil' tidbit about my dad and Great Barrington - My dad met mom there and they eloped to Ohio, on the way to another horse meet. My grandmothers house was on top of the hill and we could watch the races from backyard, after parking cars out front. One of my sisters was born in Great Barrington and we spent our summers there as kids, but our home base was Rhode Island. Dad rode primarily @ Lincoln Downs (before it became a greyhound track), Naragansett Downs and Suffolk Downs. Dad rode into his late 50's, ending his career in Charlestown, WV. Due to a hip replacement, he fell, hit his head and passed 6/14/99. I miss my father terribly, but I can tell you, I had the best childhood around the fairs and I wouldn't have changed a thing. Oh, my younger sister, Christine, married an assistant trainer and she herself works with the horses in Hershey, PA. She is right now, down @ Santa Anita with my mother, getting ready to watch Zenyatta run. Horseracing is just in the blood and no one can really understand it, unless they've lived it. Thanks again for your kind memories... Kate Hi Don,

Every once in awhile I google my Dad and I was happy to see your memories.

Just a lil’ tidbit about my dad and Great Barrington – My dad met mom there and they eloped to Ohio, on the way to another horse meet. My grandmothers house was on top of the hill and we could watch the races from backyard, after parking cars out front. One of my sisters was born in Great Barrington and we spent our summers there as kids, but our home base was Rhode Island. Dad rode primarily @ Lincoln Downs (before it became a greyhound track), Naragansett Downs and Suffolk Downs.

Dad rode into his late 50′s, ending his career in Charlestown, WV. Due to a hip replacement, he fell, hit his head and passed 6/14/99.

I miss my father terribly, but I can tell you, I had the best childhood around the fairs and I wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Oh, my younger sister, Christine, married an assistant trainer and she herself works with the horses in Hershey, PA. She is right now, down @ Santa Anita with my mother, getting ready to watch Zenyatta run. Horseracing is just in the blood and no one can really understand it, unless they’ve lived it.

Thanks again for your kind memories… Kate

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