MassCap a scratch for 2009

What he didn’t include was a date. Yesterday, the reason for the uncertainty became clear. There will be no MassCap this year, primarily because of the economic conditions at Suffolk.

“It’s a difficult decision because it means so much to the loyal racing fans of New England and to everyone at the track, but our partnership does not think we can responsibly incur the expense of the MassCap when we are fighting to save jobs and maintain current purse levels for the horsemen who are here every day,’’ said Fields in a statement. “Like so many businesses and families in the Boston area and throughout the country that are tightening their belts to weather the current economic storm, we have also been forced to make some difficult choices. We hope this is a temporary setback and that the local fans will continue to support our efforts to enhance racing in Massachusetts.’’

Suffolk chief operating officer Chip Tuttle said the track is facing the same problems as others around the country.

“To put the thing in context, both Hollywood Park and Churchill Downs have had to make cutbacks,’’ he said. “It was a difficult decision for us, but we didn’t have much of a choice. We cut down the size of our purses and we had to lay some people off over the winter. And we might have more cuts coming in the future. Hopefully, things will be better next year, with a better economic outlook for everyone. But you never know.’’

Despite its long and storied history, the MassCap has had what jockeys would call a “rough trip’’ in recent years. The race was part of Suffolk’s opening season in 1935 and remained a fixture for years, drawing such star horses as Seabiscuit and Cigar.

When Suffolk closed temporarily in 1989, the MassCap went into hibernation until three years after the track reopened in 1992. It was again a fixture of the Suffolk season from 1995, but with handle and attendance down, creating smaller purses in an industry that appeared to be on life support in New England and struggling in other parts of the country, the MassCap was suspended in 2003, ’05, and ’06. When Fields took control in 2007, he again used the MassCap as a cornerstone event.

Despite plans Fields hoped would also include the addition of slot machines by next season, Suffolk’s attendance and handle have lagged this season, which affected not only purses, but jobs.

“We are disappointed that there will be no MassCap this year,’’ said Al Balestra, president of the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association in a statement, “but Suffolk Downs’s ownership raised purse levels in 2007 and has been working hard to maintain them and to support our horsemen and local farms despite tough economic conditions.’’

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.