Massachusetts, like much of New England, used to be a hotbed for horse racing. Massachusetts legalized betting on horse racing in 1935, the Marshfield Fair track opened up soon afterwards, and quickly a very popular fair circuit sprung up around the state. Suffolk Downs in East Boston also opened up that year.
Plainridge Park, a harness track, joined the circuit in 1999. However, tracks began to close after that. The last of the Massachusetts fair tracks, Three County Fair in Northampton, ran its last meet in 2005. After Suffolk Downs closed down for good in 2019, Plainridge remains the only track in the state that still runs live racing.
Even with only one track, horseplayers have multiple options for off-track betting in the state. Simulcast wagering is available at Plainridge, and off-track wagering sites remain at both Suffolk Downs and Raynham Park, a decommissioned greyhound track.
Recommended Online Racebooks
Though there are still three places to go and bet in Massachusetts, not everyone lives near them, and not everyone who wants to make a wager has time to head out to the OTB. The good news is, there's an even better option: playing the races at an online racebook.
Online racebooks let you place all the bets you can make at an OTB, and more. Especially on major races like the Breeders' Cup and Kentucky Derby, they offer fixed-odds futures wagering and even some prop bets on the races. And, you can do so at home or on the go, from your computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Online racebooks also offer lucrative bettor benefits that you won't find at the racetrack or OTB. These include generous sign-up and deposit bonuses, referral benefits, and horse racing rebates that pay you cash or betting credit for every wager you make.
Check out these trusted online betting sites, find the ones that suit your betting needs, and get ready to bet horse racing in Massachusetts and all around the world!
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Horse Racing in Massachusetts
Live racing in Massachusetts happens at Plainridge Park in Plainridge, Massachusetts, about a half hour's drive south-southwest of Boston. The meet at Plainridge gets underway in mid-April, and draws to a close in late November, running three to four days a week during that time.
Massachusetts Horse Races
Plainridge's signature race day happens in mid-July. The richest race on the calendar is the $350,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot for all-aged trotters. The card also features the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, for all-aged fillies and mares. These purses draw the top older horses in both the older trotter and the distaff pacer divisions to Massachusetts to race!
OTB Locations in Massachusetts
In addition to simulcast wagering at Plainridge Park, there are two dedicated off-track betting sites in Massachusetts. Former Thoroughbred track Suffolk Downs in East Boston and former greyhound track Raynham Park in Raynham are open for off-track betting.
All three of these places are great for getting together with friends, having a few drinks, attending a betting seminar if they are running one that day, and watching and wagering on horse racing all around the world. However, if you're outside of one of these towns or cannot make it out to the track, with only three OTB sites in Massachusetts, consider making the switch to an online racebook!