20 Comments
User's avatar
Joe Geoghegan's avatar

You forgot (or maybe never even heard of) Lincoln Downs, Green Mountain Park, Berkshire Downs, Scarborough Downs, and Foxboro Raceway. I was at all of them.

- Lincoln Downs (RI) eventually became a greyhound track, but it was thoroughbreds for many years.

- Green Mountain Park (Pownal, VT) had the first Sunday racing in America and the place used to be packed on Sunday, There was even a special Sunday train from NYC to bring the track junkies up from the Big Apple. Eventually became trotters and then greyhounds.

- Berkshire Downs (Hancock, MA) had a brief run in the 60's and early 70's. According to Wikipedia, Frank Sinatra was an investor, and the mafia was involved too. Only made it there once.

- Foxboro Park (aka Bay State Raceway) - yes, mainly a harness track but it had a brief run as a thoroughbred venue in 1992 when it managed to run about 30 of 70 granted throughbred racing days before throwing in the towel.

- Scarborough Downs located just off the Maine Turnpike had, I think, the first night throughbred racing in America. I vividly remember going there at night as a teenager in the 1960's when we used to spend summers in Rye, NH.

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

Yep, I missed a bunch, Joe. I missed the Golden Era of New England racing.

Expand full comment
Drew Terry's avatar

First comment

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Expand full comment
Michael Pignataro's avatar

What's going on with Rich from 98.5.? Also never found out about why Charlotte Wilder only appeared 1x. Toucher and Hardy never brought it up with her.

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

Rich has a YouTube page. Not sure about the Wilder stuff.

Expand full comment
Jeremy Licciardo's avatar

I can't believe the week the sox have had. It's shocking how the offense can be such a jolt and when the pitching is good. I'm an optimist so I have hope.

Sorry but that bald head comment got me rolling lol.

Good on parenting the number stuff with the kiddos. Gambling addiction sucks almost as much as GA meetings. lol

Good looks.

and I did get the email this week.

Expand full comment
Jonathan Dunlea's avatar

By the way...this thing might really take off it you would stay mindful that you're in New England, and stop being a serial "LIKE-er" of everything people post, and start ripping some of the dumb takes people respond with...mine, for example.

You'll miss me when I get a job, I'm telling you.

Expand full comment
Jonathan Dunlea's avatar

OK, Stackie...why don't you address the horsey in the room, and give us the straight...live action animal racing has been losing popularity, whether due to puppy-huggers crying at their gates, or just the fact that as a sport, it's out of touch. I read your interview with one of the big horsey people, and I was honestly sad for her, talking about how the enormous space that is occupied by waaay too many soccer fields in Lancaster, or numerous other locations have turned down opportunities for a track, and I got the impression that everywhere she and the racing world turns, they are being rejected, with tracks closing all the time, as you state. It's not as if they want to build a bullfighting stadium, but it seems that she might as well be. So...what's the pushback, and is there hope for horses with goofy names and the people - like you - that want them to flourish? Is there a solution?

Expand full comment
Jonathan Dunlea's avatar

"In 1925...

• 5–10% of the global population had some level of engagement with horse racing—whether attending races, betting, or following results.

• That would mean 100 to 200 million people worldwide in 1925 were likely aware of or interested in the sport.

In 2025...

Taking regional popularity into account, a realistic estimate is that 3–5% of the global population actively follows horse racing today. That translates to roughly 240 to 400 million people worldwide."

OK, Mut, AI told me this, so obs it's true. I thought this was going to be a big old slam dunk of an in-your-face decline, but not really that impressive. So...there's that.

I have to think that there is something to do with the need for such an elaborate place for the horses to run in, compared with the niche interest of the sport...is the cost of the sport per spectator so much as to make it elitist? Are you only getting that "full experience" when you can be on-site, at the track?

These, and other questions I may have, need not take up your time, and need no response. Let's not change it up now. Have a weekend, bud.

Expand full comment
D Thomas Howell's avatar

I agree on much of the Pats success hinges on Maye which makes McDaniels coaching job as important as Vrables. Gonna be a fun season. Best of luck this weekend!

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

Thanks, DTH

Expand full comment
Father Chip Hines's avatar

I loved being able to bounce over to Suffolk Downs or up to The Rock for some racing on my days off. Great times. Love Saratoga but if I’m driving all that way it forces me to find a place to stay and that can get pricey. That said, it’s a beautiful place to watch racing. Enjoy the Travers Mut I wish I was there!

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

Great weather Saturday..but too many favorites to crush.

Expand full comment
Father Chip Hines's avatar

Saw you on with Davey Trash Talk! People love the Muttman! As they should. You crushed that appearance

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

That was fun...well, not the shitty pick I gave out, but fun.

Expand full comment
David G. Cyr's avatar

I THOUGHT IS WAS STRANGE THAT TJ MISSED THE FIRST DAY OF THE RADIO-THON

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

Yeah, he just does not work Mondays. Tough look.

Expand full comment
Mike's avatar

I thought your take on Felger and Mazz was interesting. Did you talk to your producers at weei when you were off air? I’m just curious. It seems decently normal to do your job and not associate with coworkers after work. Great MutStack today

Expand full comment
Mut (Mike Mutnansky)'s avatar

Some producers, 100%. Depends.

Expand full comment