The Devil is in the Details

If you haven’t taken the time to research the key figures behind the proposed racetrack and casino in Leominster, this article is for you. The man leading the charge, Richard Fields, has a long history of questionable business dealings, financial disputes, and regulatory violations—many of which raise serious concerns about what could unfold if his project is approved.

Fields, best known for his involvement in the now-defunct Suffolk Downs Race Course, has left a trail of controversy and legal battles in his wake. His history of unpaid debts, lawsuits, and regulatory fines should give Leominster residents and elected officials serious pause before allowing him to build on top of a former landfill.

1. Environmental Violations: Fields’ Record of Cutting Corners

• Suffolk Downs, under Fields’ ownership, was fined $1.2 million by the EPA for violating the Clean Water Act by illegally discharging pollutants (manure, urine, and bedding materials) into U.S. waterways.
• Why This Matters: The Leominster project sits on a former landfill. Fields has already proven he is willing to ignore environmental regulations—what happens when his landfill-based track starts leaking contaminants into local groundwater?

📄 Source: EPA Enforcement

2. A Pattern of Financial Disputes and Unpaid Debts

Fields has a well-documented history of failing to pay his business partners:

• Owes $2.6 million to former Suffolk Downs investors who sued him after the track’s sale.
• Failed to pay a $10.6 million judgment—and was caught hiding assets to avoid payment.
• Even a $43,000 bill for boarding one of his own horses went unpaid.

Why This Matters: If Fields can’t pay his own debts, why should anyone believe he will fulfill his promises to the City of Leominster?

📄 Sources: CaseText Lawsuit

3. Shady Lobbying and Political Influence

Fields has used questionable political donations and backroom deals to get what he wants in the past:

• He donated $200,000 to NY Governor Eliot Spitzer while lobbying to influence horse racing laws.
• He gave a private jet ride to Lt. Gov. David Paterson for just $176—a thinly veiled attempt to gain favor.

Why This Matters: Who is Fields cozying up to in Leominster? Will the same political favors and shady dealings push this project through?

📄 Source: NY Post Investigation

4. Fields & Trump: Accusations of Betrayal and Embargo Violation

Fields’ involvement in shady casino dealings goes beyond Massachusetts:

• He was accused of illegally breaking the U.S. embargo on Cuba while working with Donald Trump.
• Trump later sued Fields for going behind his back on a Seminole casino project.

Why This Matters: Fields has a history of backroom casino deals—who’s really benefiting from this project in Leominster?

📄 Source: Newsweek Report

5. A Disturbing Quote About Gambling and Children

In a 2007 interview with The Boston Globe, Fields openly admitted that children are the future of horse racing:

“I need that 13-year-old and the 10-year-old, or I’m dead.” – Richard Fields

Why This Matters: Is this the kind of person Leominster wants running a gambling operation in their city?

📄 Source: Boston Globe, 2007

6. The Final Red Flag: Kicked Off Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid Board

Even in philanthropic circles, Fields has struggled to maintain credibility.

• In December 2022, he was removed from the board of Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid.

Why This Matters: If Fields can’t even keep a seat on a charity board, why should Leominster trust him to handle a multi-million dollar development?

📄 Source: Boston.com Archives

Conclusion: Is This the Right Person for Leominster?

With a history of environmental violations, unpaid debts, political backroom deals, and even targeting children for gambling, Richard Fields is the wrong person to trust with this project.

Leominster officials should be extremely cautious before aligning themselves with Fields and his partners at Baystate Racing LLC.

📢 What You Can Do:

• Demand full transparency about the project’s funding and oversight.
• Ask your elected officials why they are willing to work with someone with this track record of dishonesty and financial mismanagement.
• Share this information with your neighbors—because the proof is in the pudding.

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