Christian Teja - Suffolk Downs

CONSTRUCTION. Over 3,000 laborers, 638 trucks, 36 bulldozers, and 24 power shovels were utilized to construct the facility, which is regarded as one of the most state-of-the-art racetracks in the country. (Courtesy Steve Pini.)

BREAKING GROUND. Upon the legalization of pari-mutuel wagering in Massachusetts, the Eastern Racing Association commissioned A. G. Tomasello & Son to construct the facility, a task that was completed in just 62 days. Unidentified track officials are shown here participating in the groundbreaking festivities. The officers of the Eastern Racing Association are president Bayard Tuckerman Jr., vice presidents Allan J. Wilson and Richard E. Danielson, treasurer C. V. Bruce Wetmore, and assistant treasurer W. H. Stevens. The directors are Charles F. Adams (founder and president of the Boston Bruins), John R. Macomber, W. J. McDonald, Joseph Tomasello, Charles F. Cotter, and Weston Adams (the son of Charles F. Adams), who would later succeed his father as Bruins president. (Courtesy Steve Pini.)

THE PADDOCK. Seen are the original paddock (center) and grandstand (far right). (Courtesy Steve Pini.)

THE RACING SURFACE. The main track nears completion. (Courtesy Steve Pini.)

THE CLUBHOUSE AND THE GRANDSTAND. The track boasted the only concrete grandstand in the country at the time. With a capacity of 16,000, it was also the largest. (Courtesy Steve Pini.)

THE SUFFOLK DOWNS SPECIAL. In advance of the tracks opening day, this advertisement in the Boston Post informs the public that trains will be running to and from the track daily throughout its inaugural season. ( Boston Post advertisement, courtesy Boston Public Library.)

AN OPENING DAY PROGRAM. A marked-up program from the tracks first day of racing, July 10, 1935, shows that Eddie Wrack (No. 7), with jockey Carl Hanford aboard, won the first race. An estimated crowd of 35,000 was present to witness the eight-race card. (Leslie Jones program, courtesy Boston Public Library Print Department.)

BAYARD TUCKERMAN JR. Publicity director Gus Rooney (left) converses with track president Bayard Tuckerman Jr. on opening day, July 10, 1935. ( Boston Herald photograph, courtesy Boston Public Library Print Department.)

THEYRE OFF! A field of nine breaks from the horse-drawn starting gate on July 17, 1935, one week after the track opened. The inaugural racing season consisted of 44 days split between the summer (July 10August 10) and fall (October 219), drawing an average crowd of 14,878. (Courtesy Suffolk Downs.)

JIM BRADDOCK AND IRA HANFORD. Reigning world heavyweight boxing champion Jim Cinderella Man Braddock shakes hands with jockey Ira Hanford in 1935. Braddock defeated Max Baer for the title on June 13 of that year. He served as the referee for a world championship wrestling match at Braves Field on July 30. (Leslie Jones photograph, courtesy Boston Public Library Print Department.)

WALLY BERGER AND JIM BRADDOCK. Wally Berger (left) of the Boston Braves and world heavyweight boxing champion Jim Braddock pose in front of the clubhouse. Berger was in the middle of the 1935 season, in which he hit .295 and led the National League with 34 home runs and 130 runs batted in. Berger was overshadowed earlier in the year by the presence of Babe Ruth, who left the New York Yankees and joined the Braves for the 1935 season before retiring on May 30. (Leslie Jones photograph, courtesy Boston Public Library Print Department.)