The Budweiser Clydesdales are coming to Turf Paradise Saturday March 2nd. Gates open at 11am. The Clydesdales arrive at noon and will perform on the main track after the second race.
 
Before they perform, the Clydesdales will be on display at the east end of the facility where fans will have the opportunity to photograph these legendary horses.
 
Grandstand admission is $3.  There is also a full card of live horseracing.  The day also includes $4 Bud and Bud Light aluminum bottled beer, and a kids fun park with bounce house inflatables.
 
The Budweiser Clydesdales made their first-ever appearance on April 7, 1933. A gift from August A. Busch, Jr. and Adolphus Busch to their father in celebration of the repeal of Prohibition, the presentation of the original two six-horse hitches of champion Clydesdales moved father, sons and drivers to tears. The phrase “crying in your beer” was officially coined shortly thereafter.

The Clydesdale appearance is just the start of a long list of special events coming to Turf Paradise in March.

The Weiner dog races return to Turf Paradise March 9th.  Wiener Mania at Turf Paradise is Arizona’s biggest Dachshund race with a costume contest and a “Parade of Wieners.”  Plus a full card of live horseracing. The wiener dog races are benefiting Arizona Adopt a Greyhound and Happy Tails Dachshund Rescue. Register here.
 
March 23rd is Fan Appreciation Day at Turf Paradise. The first 4,000 paid admissions will get a free wall clock. The day also features a full card of live horseracing, and a bulldog costume contest. To register for the contest email AlbertTheBulldog@cox.net.
 
Weiner Mania and Fan Appreciation Day also feature a kids fun park with bounce house inflatables, live music, and $3 aluminum bottled beer. Grandstand admission both days is $3.

On March 24th Fiesta Sunday returns to Turf Paradise. In addition to a full card of live horseracing, the day also features live Mexican music and food. Grandstand admission on Fiesta Sunday is $5.
 
Turf Paradise is Arizona’s first sports franchise, and has operated continuously at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell since 1956.  It offers one of the longest racing seasons in the United States thanks to Arizona’s great weather. Through Off Track Betting networks its races are viewed at OTB locations all over the United States and worldwide.

March 23rd is Fan Appreciation Day at Turf Paradise. The first 4,000 paid admissions will get a free wall clock. The day also features a full card of live horseracing, and a bulldog costume contest. To register for the contest email AlbertTheBulldog@cox.net.
 
Wiener Mania and Fan Appreciation Day also feature a kids fun park with bounce house inflatables, live music, and $3 aluminum bottled beer. Grandstand admission both days is $3.

On March 24th Fiesta Sunday returns to Turf Paradise. In addition to a full card of live horseracing, the day also features live Mexican music and food. Grandstand admission on Fiesta Sunday is $5.
 
Turf Paradise is Arizona’s first sports franchise, and has operated continuously at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell since 1956.  It offers one of the longest racing seasons in the United States thanks to Arizona’s great weather. Through Off Track Betting networks its races are viewed at OTB locations all over the United States and worldwide.

Senor Friday turned in a game performance to win the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby and Free My Soul out-dueled numerous challengers to win the $30,000 Arizona Oaks Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Turf Paradise Derby
Favored Senor Friday ($4.80), with Francisco Arrieta aboard, found clear sailing in the final sixteenth of a mile to beat a fast-closing Parking Permit by 2 ¼ lengths with Prince Pierce third in a field of eight 3-year-olds. Senor Friday was able to beat Parking Permit straight up after inheriting victory from that one following a disqualification in the Startac Stakes.
 
Owned by Charles Garvey and trained by Robertino Diodoro, Senor Friday, a son of Curlin, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.44 for his fourth win in six starts for earnings of $65,762.
 
Arizona Oaks
The 4-5 favorite Free My Soul with Scott Stevens up shook free of two hard pressing rivals and went on to post a 2 ¼ length victory over Dress Shopping with Frances Anna third in the field of six 3-year-old fillies.
 
Owned by Joe Beuttenmuller, John Gallagher and Saratoga West, Free My Soul ($3.80), winning for the third time in seven outings for trainer Jeff Metz, covered the one mile in 1:38.19 for earnings of $50,184.

Three-year-olds looking to polish their resumes will be featured in the $50,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $30,000 Arizona Oaks Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
The Derby, at 1 1/16 miles, attracted field of eight while the Oaks, at one mile, drew a field of six. Post time will be 12:55 pm.
 
Turf Paradise Derby, 7th Race
The key to the Derby may lie in the January 26th Startac Stakes, won by Parking Permit but later disqualified and placed third behind Senor Friday and Prince Pierce. All three are back in the Derby along with Startac competitors Tequila Cowboy(5th) and Keyson(8th).
 
The DQ’d Parking Permit kicked in the after burners late to catch the pace-setting duo of Senor Friday and Prince Pierce. This scenario might play again, except for the undefeated Dr John H, who won his maiden at first asking, then followed with in win in the Lost in the Fog Stakes, winning both outings on the front end. The son of Harbor the Gold will be making his first start as a 3-year-old and stretching out for the first time.
 
Of interest is the Chicago shipper Charlie Irish, who has won two of three outings at Hawthorne, with each start as the favorite.
 
The Arizona Oaks, 4th Race
The lone stakes winner in the compact field of 6 fillies is Free My Soul, who edged out Stormy Music and Dress Shopping in the Jack Coady Stakes. Those two return in the Oaks along with Let Me Fly (4th in the Coady), Frances Anna (5th in the Coady) and Twitterati. The top three finishers in the Coady were separated by necks at the wire. The Oaks should be just as close at the finish.
 

Minister of Soul came out the victor of a hard-fought battle in the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Ridden by Glenn Corbett, Minister of Soul ($5.60) went head-to-head with 6-5 favorite Mr. Jagermeister thru early blistering splits of :21.45, 43.33 and :55.36 before the latter tired to finish third to eventual runner-up Never Give In in the field of five older horses.
 
Owned and trained by Esteban Martinez, Minister of Soul completed the 6-furlongs in 1:08.41, and was 3 ¼ lengths clear for his sixth win in 11 starts and his third – and arguably biggest - local stakes tally. His $46,500 for winning the Gold Cup boosted his lifetime earnings to $128,203.
 
Sun City Handicap
All jockey Scott Stevens had to do with the 4-5 favorite Medaglia Gold ($3.60) was, to secure the lead and the 4-year-old filly did the rest with her patented wire-to-wire style, posting a 2 ¼ length victory over Panoe with last year’s winner Paddy’s Secret third in the field of six fillies and mares.
 
Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Larry Williams and guided by the patient training style of Shawn Davis, Medaglia Gold covered the one mile over firm turf in 1:37.12, for her sixth win in 16 outings for earnings of $143,831.
 
Turf Paradise Handicap
Longshot Spooky Channel ($48.20) with Denny Velazquez aboard edged away in a three way tussle to defeat a determined 9-5 favorite Gato Guapo by a head with Cleanup Hitter a length behind in third in the field of nine older horses.
 
Owned by Terry Hamilton and trained Clay Brinson, Spooky Channel covered the 1 1/16 miles over the lawn in 1:42.61 for his third win in five efforts for $39,006.