If you haven't taken the time to do any research on the investors involved with this race track project, this post is for you. Richard Fields, of the now defunct Suffolk Downs Race Course, has a track record (pun intended) of questionable business practices, going back many, many years.
1. Fined by the EPA for 1.2 million dollars
“Suffolk [Downs] violated section 301 of the Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants (e.g., manure, urine, and bedding materials) from a CAFO to waters of the United States without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit” https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/sterling-suffolk-racecourse-llc-settlement
2. Sued by former partners at Suffolk Downs for non-payment of 2.6 million dollars after the sale of Suffolk Downs
3. As part of his prior work with Donald J Trump, was implicated in illegally breaking the US embargo against doing work in Cuba
https://www.newsweek.com/2016/10/14/donald-trump-cuban-embargo-castro-violated-florida-504059.html 4. Failed to pay 10.6 million dollars to a former business associate
and thenwas caught hiding money to avoid paying the settlement.
https://casetext.com/case/toussie-v-williams-connolly-llp 5. Questionable influence on NY State gambling laws
Fields gave $200,000 for Former NY Gov Spitzer’s re-election campaign and gave Lt. Gov. David Paterson a ride on his private jet for just $176, in lobbying efforts to influence laws about horse racing.
https://nypost.com/2007/09/06/spitzers-track-fix/
6. Donald Trump accused Fields of dealing behind his back
Fields was accused by Trump of dealing behind his back and sued over a Seminole casino project in Florida. Suit was settled by Fields buying a Trump property in NJ for far more than the property was worth.
http://archive.boston.com/business/articles/2008/05/30/suffolk_downs_owner_trump_resolve_dispute/
7. Fields sued by former owner of his Wyoming Ranch https://archive.curbed.com/2012/11/28/10301788/1750-acre-jackson-hole-ranch-center-of-legal-battle 8. Fields using corporate money to fuel his lavish lifestyle
https://jusmundi.com/fr/document/decision/en-robert-toussie-and-michael-toussie-v-coastal-development-llc-and-richard-fields-arbitrators-award-sunday-12th-june-2022 (From 2016, arbitration award filing) There is still an active case regarding this property in which Fields is suing his lawyers for malpractice related to the mortaging/lending/remortgaging of this property:
9. Fields quoted in the Boston Globe from 2007, targeting children as the future savior of betting on horse racing:
'His greatest challenges are competition from the state Lottery and out-of-state casino resorts — and making the Sport of Kings appeal to a younger generation that is just fine doing its gaming, if not gambling, on a computer.
"I need that 13-year-old and the 10-year-old, or I'm dead," said Fields.'
10. Fields and his then wife, Brandy Coletta, were sued for non-payment for the boarding and care of one of their horses.
According to the suit, the plaintiff had only received $17,500 of about $43,000 owed to her.
We need the fields without the RICHARD Fields. It is obvious that they have exhausted all possibilities with eight other towns turning them down...all much more conveniently located, larger population and and inclined at first to accept the proposal. Then, as time and information ( the truth) came out, all other towns have turned them down. Do not let Hardwick win their battle and last ditch effort to make Billionairs ind lose over 300 acres of APR land just to make this happen. This just is not who we are.
Linda Tomasi