Big Victory for Racing: Suffolk County in Massachusetts Votes Overwhelming Majority to Retain Sport, Daily Racing Form, 1938-11-10

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! BIG VICTORY FOR RACING Suffolk County in Massachusetts Votes Overwhelming Majority to Retain Sport Agawam Loses. PAWTUCKET, R. I., Nov. 9. Racing scored a sweeping victory at the polls in Suffolk county, seat of Suffolk Downs in East Boston, on Tuesday, as citizens balloted on the referendum which, could save or kill the sport. With returns virtually complete late yesterday, it was evident that racing would be overwhelmingly approved by a vote of at least four to one. With only a few precincts missing, the vote in favor of racing stood at 143,463 against 40,472. Racing at the Revere dog track in the same county was approved by a vote of 120,512 to 50,583. Suffolk Downs officials were jubilant over the devastating defeat of the self-termed "reform" element. They had anticipated victory, but the landslide surprised even the men most intimately concerned with the affairs of Suffolk Downs. "With this tremendous weight of public opinion in our favor, we can move forward without fear and without interference," said Charles F. Adams, head of the course. "We will have the greatest meeting in our history next season. I will try to repay those who supported us by offering them the greatest and cleanest sport possible. I thank our friends from the bottom of my heart." The racing referendum was voted upon by all Massachusetts counties, but was important only in Suffolk County and in Hampden County where Agawam is located. After a bitter fight, racing was defeated in Hampden County and Agawam cannot operate again for at least two years.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1930s/drf1938111001/drf1938111001_1_9
Local Identifier: drf1938111001_1_9
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800