Suffolk cancels final Tuesday race due to breakdown

The ninth and final race at Suffolk Downs was canceled Tuesday due to heavy equipment remaining on the main track following a fatal breakdown in the previous race.

The equipment was needed to recover the body of National Hero, an 11-year-old son of El Prado and New England’s champion turf male in 2010-11, who lost jockey Jordano Tunon leaving the gate and broke through the outside rail on the turf course nearing the stretch and fell into the ditch that separates the turf course from the main track.

Track management deemed there was insufficient time to run the final race, which was to be a $5,000 claiming event for fillies and mares at about 5 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Tunon was unhurt in the incident.