Richard Fields and Charles Sarkis Form Racing Partnership
The sports of horse and greyhound racing, as well as the people behind them, just got a boost as two familiar racing facilities in Boston teamed up. Suffolk Downs, home of the Massachusetts Handicap (MassCap), and Wonderland Greyhound Park, formed a partnership to save the sports and the thousands of people who depend on horse and greyhound racing.
Though discussions to formally create a joint venture started as early as two years ago, the principal owners of both facilities encountered several issues that halted the negotiations. Businessman and philanthropist Richard Fields, who is Suffolk Down’s majority and principal owner, and Charles Sarkis of Wonderland Greyhound Park however, finally agreed on the terms of their partnership.
Charles Sarkis stated that the goal of the partnership is to ensure the continuity of the jobs of the people who are working in both racing facilities, which are in close proximity to each other, being separated only by a 2-mile gap.
Both parties have also filed for a casino license. A casino in the area will generate a lot of employment opportunities and revenue. Discussions about the casino license application are currently underway.
Fields also made several policy changes in Suffolk Downs after purchasing a controlling interest in the said facility. One of these is the banning of horse slaughter. Richard Fields is adamantly against slaughtering retiring racehorses and believes in alternative options for these hardworking animals. Animal rights agencies are happy to have found a champion for the welfare of horses.
Aside from horse racing activities, Richard Fields also has other business engagements. As the chairman of the Coastal Development, LLC, Fields is heavily involved in resort and casino development and management and in hotel construction. One of his popular projects is his co-development of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida.
An active philanthropist, Richard Fields established The Fields Family Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Fields Family Foundation has been a steady supporter of the research efforts against muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes continuous muscle weakness, muscle and tissue defects, and death of muscle cells.
Article source: Suffolk Downs, Wonderland form partnership (Boston Globe)