Racetrack owner aids politicians’ charities

In 2009, the Fields charity donated $6,000 to a foundation established by Petruccelli, a Democrat from East Boston, where the track is located, and has provided key support to Suffolk’s casino plans after voicing early skepticism.

The money from the developer, who is hoping for a payday worth hundreds of millions of dollars, helped both politicians maintain their political profiles. Such donations are not illegal.

Both Menino’s spokeswoman, Dot Joyce, and Petruccelli said in interviews that their positions on the casino issue were not influenced by the donations or any promise of contributions. They said their charities solicit donations from many businesses.

Representatives for Fields said the donations represent a small portion of his foundation’s contributions to causes around the country. The local causes, they said, are in line with those interests and part of the track’s commitment to supporting charities throughout the community.

Fields, who lives in Jackson, Wyo., has not made political donations to any of the politicians debating a bill to legalize casinos in Massachusetts, according to state campaign finance records. Such donations would have been a more traditional route to gaining political access.

Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo do not have similar charities.

“For the past two decades, Richard Fields and his family have contributed more than ten million dollars to local community charities focused on helping families, children and law enforcement,’’ Martin R. Klein, chief operating officer of Coastal Development, the New York-based parent company of Suffolk, said in a statement. “In every local community he is involved, including the Boston area, he has supported worthwhile local charities.’’