Parr Meadows (aka Suffolk Meadows), Long Island, NY
Came up on conversation the other day. Someone told me the reason it did not continue it that the Mafia wanted money from the owners to allow them to operate. I believe there was a murder connected with it.
Sad, to have a racetrack built, pretty much not used and then torn down.
Long Island could have used something nice like that.
Great Track!
Hi,
Parr Meadows was a great track. It opened in the late 1970s but I’m not sure when it closed. I don’t know anything about the Mafia tale. I just ‘hung out’ there around 1977 - 1978 or 79.
I galloped some horses there for a time…wow…galloping QHs is a lot different than TBs (at least I found it so). By now, you’ve figured out I’m approaching advanced middle age (if you put 2 + 2 together :))!
I have happy memories of spending time at Parr Meadows.
Hallie
Hallie I. McEvoy
Racing Dreams, LLC
Jonesville Antiques & Collectibles
I don’t know anything about the Mafia tale.
Nor did I, Hal. (Should I be talking about this? Will I have to be careful when the doorbell rings now?) 
Yes, someone on L.I., who follows racing told me about this the other day. It makes sense, don’t you think? Who would want to take it on with that baggage attached?
How is galloping QHs different? I’m watching lots of QH racing on HRTV lately. Fascinating, beautiful horses, . . .
You are in VT? Nice. I’m from NY, then CA, then NY again. Hope to relocate to New England in a few more years. It’s not good around here anymore. Used to be good horse country, now people just like to go to the mall & the beach (yippee, fun, right?).
I have heard 'round the backside that the track failed due to lack of interest in betting on quarterhorses. There were unsuccessful attempts to redevelop the site after the track failure.
some google info
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/27/nyregion/plans-for-yaphank-mall-put-builder-under-fire.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilbur_Breslin
http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/880/880.F2d.1540.88-5045.894.html
http://libn.com/2009/05/15/kominicki-i-came-upon-a-child-of-god-he-was-walking-the-lie/
“Parr decided his best hope for a profit was to open the nearly completed track, and the hastily renamed Parr Meadows went on to a successful 113-day racing season before closing under the weight of financial shenanigans and attempted mob infiltration that had Parr wearing both a wire and a sidearm.”
"THE 100-acre oak and pine forest that Wilbur P. Breslin is bulldozing in Yaphank for a regional shopping mall is visible from the ruined grandstand of the abandoned Parr Meadows quarterhorse track.
The track, the dream of another developer, Ronald Parr, opened with fanfare in 1977, but soon closed for a lack of bettors. The venture left behind an eerie devastated landscape and acres of empty parking fields."
“B. Facts.
9The dispute in this case centers in the bankruptcies of two related debtors: Parr Meadows Racing Association (“the association”), and Ronald J. Parr (“Parr”), who, during all times relevant to this appeal, served as chairman of the board of the association. Parr filed for bankruptcy on June 12, 1979; four months later, on October 4, 1979, the association petitioned for reorganization under chapter 11. This reorganization was subsequently converted to a liquidation case under chapter 7.
10The principal asset of Parr and the association, and the only asset at issue on this appeal, is the Parr Meadows Racetrack (“the racetrack”), a property located in eastern Suffolk County and valued at several million dollars. Rightful ownership of the racetrack is still the subject of some dispute, but that issue is not before us on appeal. For our purposes, it is sufficient to note (1) that taxes were not paid on the racetrack property for six of the seven tax years between 1978-79 and 1984-85, and (2) that several secured creditors, including Lincoln Savings Bank, American Home Insurance Company, National Union Fire Insurance Company, New Hampshire Insurance Company, and T. Frederick Jackson, Inc. (collectively “the secured creditors”) hold valid mortgages on the property, all perfected before Parr and the association filed for relief under the bankruptcy provisions.”
Suffolk Meadows was a quarter horse racing facility on Long Island that operated during 1977 and 1986. The racetrack was situated on a 65-acre (0.26 km2) parcel located in Yaphank northwest of the William Floyd Parkway interchange on the Long Island Expressway.
The racetrack first opened in 1977 as Parr Meadows and closed following a 113 day meet after the bank defaulted on loans. Although the track was not built by developer Ron Parr, the Parr Organization assumed ownership after the original builder ran out of funds.[1][2][3] In May 1986, horse racing briefly returned to Suffolk Meadows for an 86 day stint. The racetrack ceased operations on October 18, 1986.[4]
On September 7, 1979, 18,000 attendees gathered at Parr Meadows for a ten hour concert featuring a number of the original performers from the Woodstock Festival. Musical artists attending the tenth year reunion concert included Blondie Chaplin, Canned Heat, Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian, Johnny Winter, Paul Butterfield, Rick Danko and Stephen Stills. Many of the concertgoers arrived the day before, parking along William Floyd Parkway and camping out in the woods.[2][3]
Suffolk Meadows has also been the site of competitions for the International Professional Rodeo Association and the Suffolk County Fair.[5][6] The former racetrack site has also been discussed as a potential location of a casino for the Shinnecock Indian Nation.[7] In 1997, developer Wilbur Breslin planned to develop the adjacent property into a regional shopping mall called Brookhaven Town Center.[8]
The track failed due to lack of interest in betting on Quarterhorses. Mr. Parr tried to gain financing to keep it afloat. That he tried to get money from the mob? in NYC? really 
I agree - what nonsense. Organized crime is way smarter than this. They’d never get involved in this venue unless/until it was already showing profits.
I attended some of those races at “Parr Meadows” back when I lived in LI/NY, & attendance was pitiful. The races were too short, folks who were used to TB racing just weren’t interested, & there weren’t enough QH-racing enthusiasts to carry the venue.
Nuff said.
Mr. Parr tried to gain financing to keep it afloat. That he tried to get money from the mob?
No, Life, you reversed that. I had said above: “Someone told me the reason it did not continue it that the Mafia wanted money from the owners to allow them to operate.”
Why are you all (some of you all) getting in a tizzy? I was just telling you what I heard and asking what you all thought. Eeesh.
Now it looks like you are quoting from a Court paper. Do you really think people will want to say on that type of document that they have some pressure from the mob, they were afraid, so didn’t pay bills to further a bankruptcy?
This happens to be out there, too:
before closing under the weight of financial shenanigans and attempted mob infiltration that had Parr wearing both a wire and a sidearm.
Whether that is or isn’t true - I really don’t care much. Just discussing.
True, attendance was bad; a big factor. Huge factor.
Again, I was just throwing it out there for discussion.
[QUOTE=sonomacounty;6027515]
Mr. Parr tried to gain financing to keep it afloat. That he tried to get money from the mob?
No, Life, you reversed that. I had said above: “Someone told me the reason it did not continue it that the Mafia wanted money from the owners to allow them to operate.”
Why are you all (some of you all) getting in a tizzy? I was just telling you what I heard and asking what you all thought. Eeesh.
Now it looks like you are quoting from a Court paper. Do you really think people will want to say on that type of document that they have some pressure from the mob, they were afraid, so didn’t pay bills to further a bankruptcy?
This happens to be out there, too:
before closing under the weight of financial shenanigans and attempted mob infiltration that had Parr wearing both a wire and a sidearm.
Whether that is or isn’t true - I really don’t care much. Just discussing.
True, attendance was bad; a big factor. Huge factor.
Again, I was just throwing it out there for discussion.[/QUOTE]
heh heh You need to consider the source of your quote:
"This little bit of historical obscurity comes to us courtesy of developer Ron Parr, who back in 1977 assumed reluctant ownership of a Yaphank horse track when the original builder defaulted on the project.
Parr decided his best hope for a profit was to open the nearly completed track, and the hastily renamed Parr Meadows went on to a successful 113-day racing season before closing under the weight of financial shenanigans and attempted mob infiltration that had Parr wearing both a wire and a sidearm."
No tizzy here, I’m laughing as I am typing these. I guess you would have needed to know the players to understand the humor.
You need to consider the source of your quote
Yes, always important to go with the best sources. Agreed.
I’m laughing as I am typing these. I guess you would have needed to know the players to understand the humor.
I’m sure. Hmmm . . . sounds a bit interesting, but I won’t ask.
Etc.
Hi Sonoma,
I found the ‘rating’ of QHs doing drills different from TBs. I had a trainer at Parr Meadows once ask me if I could go “an easy 11 1/2 then gallop out in about 23 1/2.” It made my head spin. Notice he said “an EASY 11 1/2.” I could hear the wind whistling through the holes in my head. I prayed not to fall off. After I had instructions similar to this a few times I got used to it.
Breaking from the gate is a tad different, too. So much depends on the start in QH races. I mean, man oh man, you come out of the gate flying at top speed.
But, I was young and stupid. I used to go right from the disco to the track in the morning, covered in glitter. I thought I was such hot stuff! Now I cring thinking about the chances I took.
Best,
Hallie
Thanks for explaining Hal. I appreciate it.
That sounds pretty hair raising. :0
The past few years I’ve been a half-boarder of a qh in a quarter horse barn. I ended up there just because it is just down the road from me and I need something close and easy for now. It a nice barn, nice horses, great people, so it works.
I wonder if the racing qh’s are any bigger because the riding ones I know are about 15 - 15.2 hands. (Nice breed but a bit small, imo.)
Now I cring thinking about the chances I took.
Well, thank goodness nothing bad came out of it. And, oh, do I hear you on that. Years ago, I groomed a bunch of really mean, evil racehorses that no one else wanted to take care of (another young & stupid person). Amazing what we got away with, eh?
Have a great Holiday !
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