Suffolk opens for simulcasts

Suffolk Downs outside of Boston in Massachusetts opened for full-card simulcasting on Wednesday morning after legislators passed a bill late Tuesday night allowing the state's four parimutuel tracks to take bets on simulcasts.

Suffolk had been closed for two days after legislation allowing full-card simulcasting expired on Dec. 31. Though the state's Senate passed a bill late in 2006 allowing for a three-month extension, Rep. David Flynn of Bridgewater blocked the passage of the bill in the House last week until a compromise was worked out on Tuesday night allowing for the simulcasting law to be extended for two years and giving Raynham/Taunton greyhound track in Flynn's district the ability to import more Thoroughbred simulcasts on Suffolk's dark days.

Suffolk opened on Wednesday even though Gov. Mitt Romney had not yet signed the bill by the time that the track opened. Romney's last official day as governor was Wednesday. The three other parimutuel tracks in Massachusetts also reopened on Wednesday prior to the bill being signed.