More than 1,100 Grand Prix racing fans who bought tickets to a Boston race that was abruptly canceled in April have received refunds totaling roughly $650,000 in recent months, and more payouts are forthcoming, Attorney General Maura Healey’s office said Thursday.
The news came four months after Healey announced a deal between the state and IndyCar racing to have the company provide $925,000 in refunds, after the local promoter, Boston Grand Prix, scrapped plans for a Labor Day weekend race in the Seaport District.
“Our office has been working hard to get money back into people’s hands as soon as possible,’’ Healey’s office said in a statement. “We are pleased that consumers have begun to receive their refunds in full as the result of our agreement with INDYCAR. Our main focus has always been getting these fans their money. We will continue to identify ticket purchasers who need to be made whole.’’
State officials said they are still in the process of dispensing the payouts and urged customers who are awaiting refunds to contact Healey’s office via e-mail at Indycar-settlement@state.ma.us or a special hot line at 617-963-2447.
Initially, Boston Grand Prix was on the hook for $1.67 million to ticket holders after the race was canceled. The promoter paid out $400,000 in refunds, then said through its lawyer that it had run out of cash.
Healey eventually filed suit against the Boston Grand Prix around the same time that she reached the deal with IndyCar.
On Thursday, a number of customers reacted happily to the latest round of payouts, including Jack Gately, a Massachusetts real estate broker who said via e-mail that his $113 refund arrived Wednesday.
“Oh sure, [I’m] pleased to get the refund,’’ Gately wrote. “Thanks to the AG and the national IndyCar organization for stepping up to the plate. I’m a 30-plus-year IndyCar fan so I’m disappointed the race didn’t happen. I only hope these types of things don’t discourage the city from hosting events of similar scope in the future. Boston shouldn’t be [the] city of ‘No.’ ’’
Another customer, identified as Diana Nolting, tweeted out Wednesday, “Sincere thank you to @MassAGO and @indycar for working so hard to get refunds to us for the canceled Boston race. It is greatly appreciated.’’
About 4,000 people had bought tickets to the event before race plans collapsed in the spring.
The national IndyCar group, the sport’s sanctioning body, could not be reached for comment Thursday night, but the company said during the summer that it was “stepping into the breach left by promoter Boston Grand Prix’’ and putting up $925,000 for refunds.
Boston Grand Prix filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July, claiming about $9 million in liabilities, and remaining assets of $10,900 in cash and two cars worth $50,000, according to court records.
Meanwhile customers made whole this week were relieved to have their hard-earned cash back, including one Twitter used named Rich Forziati.
“Thanks to @IndyCar and @MassAGO for taking care of #IndyCar fans,’’ Forziati tweeted Monday. “Got my refund for the Boston GP today.’’
Mark Arsenault of the Globe Staff contributed to this report. Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @TAGlobe.
