Richard Fields
Jackson Land & Cattle
Richard Fields was always a lover of horses and an admirer of the cowboy skill and lifestyle. Despite having been born, bred, and educated in New York City, Richard Fields determined to one day own his own ranch.
Richard Fields bought Jackson Land and Cattle in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and learned how to ride a horse and compete in a horseback event called cutting. Cutting is a timed western cowboy horsing event that requires horse and rider to work together in order to separate one cow from the rest of the heard in an arena. Unlike thoroughbred racing horses, which are bred for power, speed, and stamina, the best cow horses are light, agile, and smart. In western competitions, the cutting horse must dart in a number of calculated, quick-turn maneuvers to keep up with the calf. Often times, cow horses work without the direction of the cowboy. Richard Fields plans to turn Jackson Land and Cattle into a center for this western horse sport.
Suffolk Downs
As a tycoon in the entertainment industry, Richard Fields also loves the historic sport of thoroughbred racing. In 2007, Richard Fields became the largest shareholder of Suffolk Downs, which had suffered in previous years from poor management and dwindling crowds. Richard Fields revived the Massachusetts Handicap to Suffolk Downs when he acquired it in 2007, in part by contributing his own funds to the purse. Pending Massachusetts gambling laws, Richard Fields hopes to turn Suffolk Downs into a leisure and entertainment event center with its own resort atmosphere, casino, dining, and events.
Suffolk Downs is a historic race track. The MassCap has been a show stopping racing ground for many famous race horses, including Cigar, Whirlaway, Seabiscuit, and Top Row. In order to restore the race track to its former glory, Richard Fields has made significant investment in the revitalization of the track and the winnings of the purse, hoping to attract present-day big names and bigger crowds. In 2008, Richard Fields promised $5 Million to the MassCap Purse winner if the unbeaten horse Big Brown faces off against another unbeaten horse: Curlin.