$ 2 Dollar Day Friday. Free Sweatshirts On Saturday. Sunday Fiesta Day

You don’t have to spend Thanksgiving weekend fighting the crowds at the malls. That’s why we have Amazon, gift cards at supermarkets, and Turf Paradise. Because after eating half your body weight in turkey and trimmings it’s time to get out of the house and get to the track for a weekend of fun for you, your family, and those relatives who are staying with you longer than you expected.
 
Turf Paradise has three days of exciting and inexpensive family fun. And we’re giving away free sweatshirts.
 
$2 Day Friday November 23rd
It’s the day after Thanksgiving. There’s no law that says you have to spend it shopping for stuff you don’t want or need. What you need to do is spend the day at Turf Paradise for $2 Day. There’s a full card of live local horseracing where you can watch, wager and win.  Grandstand admission is $2 Friday.  So are hotdogs, popcorn, soda, and ice cream. Kids 16 and under get in free. General parking is free. There’s also $2 draft beer, $2 wine, $4 Vodka drinks and a live DJ.
 
Family Fun Day November 24th
There’s no need to spend the Saturday after Thanksgiving cooped up in your home arguing politics with your brother-in-law. Spread the warmth instead with a free sweatshirt. Grandstand admission is $3. Kids 16 and under get in free and the first 4,000 paid admissions get a free Turf Paradise sweatshirt. There’s a full card of live horse racing featuring The Queen of the Green Stakes and the Walter Cluer Memorial Stakes. There’s also live music and a kids fun park with bounce house inflatables. Plus $3 aluminum bottle beer.
 
 
 
Sunday Fiesta Day November 25th
It’s the Sunday after Thanksgiving and your thanksgiving leftovers have been reduced to a turkey neck, half a wing, and a slab of green bean casserole that seems to have changed color. Why not celebrate the last day of the holiday at Turf Paradise for Fiesta Sunday where you can enjoy Mexican food and drink specials and live Mexican music. Grandstand admission is just $5 and kids 16 and under get in free. There will be a full card of live horse racing, including some of the best quarter horse racing in the southwest.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “A cold beer, a warm breeze, and red hot horseracing. What better way to spend Thanksgiving weekend?”
 
Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956 and has operated at the same location (19th Avenue and Bell) ever since making it Arizona’s first sports franchise.

Horseracing fans who can’t make the trip to Churchill Downs for the Breeders’ Cup will still be able to get in on the action at Turf Paradise Friday November 2 and Saturday November 3 to watch and wager and win on the simulcast of the Breeders’ Cup plus additional live local horseracing.

The two-day, 13-race Breeders’ Cup Championship, which will be contested at Churchill Downs  and will be simulcast in its entirety at Turf Paradise and all  OTB (Off Track Betting) sites in Arizona.

 Turf Paradise will offer live local racing on Friday to coincide with the Breeders’ Cup Simulcast.
 
On Saturday, in addition to live racing, Turf is also offering all day buffets allowing fans to watch the Breeders’ Cup races in style while taking in a day of live and local horseracing.

Gate opening and times are as follows:
Friday: Gates Open: 9 am. 1st Breeders’ Cup Race 12:21; 1st Live Race at Turf Paradise: 11:30am.

Saturday: Gates Open: 7:15am; 1st Breeders Cup Race is 9:00am; 1st Live Race at Turf Paradise at 12:55pm;
 
The Breeders’ Cup all day buffet at the Clubhouse is $39.  The Turf Club offers a more formal atmosphere for $48.
Clubhouse Reservations: (602) 375-6470. 
Turf Club Reservations: (602) 375-6472.
 
The show piece of the Breeders’ Cup races is the $6 million Classic at 1 ¼ miles which runs at 2:44pm Arizona time and will be simulcast at Turf Paradise.


Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “The Breeders’ Cup assembles the best thoroughbreds in the world in competition. You can watch and wager on track or at our OTB’s.”
 
The season also includes:

• Fiesta Sundays on the last Sundays of the month in October, November, January, March and April
• A Thanksgiving Weekend Party
• Super Saturday February 9th featuring the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup
• 63rd Anniversary Party featuring the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile January 12
• Wiener Dog Races March 2nd
• Kentucky Derby Party May 4th

 
 
Who: Turf Paradise
What: Breeders’ Cup Party
When: November 2nd and 3rd
Where: Turf Paradise 1501 West Bell Road
How Much: Grandstand admission is just $3
Clubhouse Buffet $39
Turf Club Buffet $48


 
Turf Paradise opened its doors in January 1956 and has operated at the same location ever since at 19th Ave. and Bell. It is Arizona’s 1st sports franchise.

Though she received little confidence from the betting public that sent her off at 22-1, Paddy’s Secret scampered home the upset winner of the $30,000 Princess of Palms Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise,
 
Racing mid-pack under Daniel Vergara, Paddy’s Secret collared BCZ Middleton, (who won this race the past two years) in deep stretch and drew off to win by a comfortable 2 ¾ lengths. Race favorite and southern California shipper Lake Time finished third in the field of nine fillies and mares.
 
Owned by Mike Bolduc and trained by Frank Lucarelli, Paddy’s Secret, a 4-year-old daughter of Paddy O’Prado, was winning for the fifth time in 15 outings. Her career earnings now stand at $79,421.

The competition is so keen and the angles so many that it makes the $30,000 Princess of Palms a horseplayers’ dream race for betting Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
The Princess of Palms, for fillies and mares, at 6-furlongs, attracted a field of 10 and will go as the 7th race on an eight-race card. Post time is 12:55 pm.
 
The competition and the angles:
 
Leading trainer Robertino Diodoro, who has already won 10 races from 16 starts over the first three days of the new meet, is sending forth multiple stakes winner Gorgeous Ginny. ANGLE: The 3-year-old miss is a perfect two-for-two in stakes locally and has been competitive against tougher is southern California and jockey Glenn Corbett is currently batting 25% in the win department.
 
Lake Time: One of two southern California shippers, the 4-year-old has been competing against high priced claimers over on the coast. A confirmed closer with a $141,066 bankroll from two career wins. ANGLE: She may find this competition softer.
 
Sierrita: A homebred who’s been in the money in 20 of 28 starts, the 5-year-old remains competitive no matter who she’s facing. ANGLE: She loves the local surface, having won 6 of 16 starts.
 
Dontkissntell: Lightly raced 3-year-old of trainer Valorie Lund, who won an $85,000 sprint stakes at Emerald Downs in August. ANGLE: Can go to the front or be rated and gets the red-hot David Lopez who’s won half his eight rides.
 
Holy Mosey: The second of the southern Cal shippers who’s coming off three in the money performances on the coast. ANGLE: Another closer who’ll benefit from the dueling speedsters.
 
BCZ Middleton: Trainer Jeff Metz and BCZ Middleton will be looking for a record third consecutive victory in this race. The 5-year-old mare leads all earners with $183,821. ANGLE: Those racing with her on the front end do so at their own peril. She doesn’t give in without a tough fight.
 
Brechin’s Command: Well-traveled 3-year-old who will be racing mid-pack has won three of 12 efforts in mid-level claimers plus a $50 grand stakes at Hastings. ANGLE: Gets the talented Francisco Arrieta who’s so far won 6 of 17 efforts over three days of racing for 35% win mark.
 

Five-time leading trainer Robertino Diodoro served notice he’s going for another title by winning five races, including the $30,000 Bienvenidos Stakes on Saturday’s rain-drenched opening day of the new race meet at Turf Paradise.
 
Wasting no time, Diodoro took the first race with prohibitive favorite Jonny’s Choice ($2.40) with Glenn Corbett aboard for the nearly 5 ½ length victory over the sloppy going.
 
Diodoro, Corbett and owner Charles Garvey then teamed up winning three consecutive races with Charleys Eddy ($3.20) in the fourth race, then following with Bank Walker ($2.10) in the fifth with Francisco Arrieta and Awesome ($3.20) in the sixth with David Lopez up.
 
Diodoro and Arrieta capped off the five wins from eight starts day by winning the Bienvenidos Stakes with Izzy the Warrior ($7.20). Diodoro’s Bourbon Cowboy finished second to complete the exacta.

A field of nine sprinters will head postward in the $30,000 Bienvenidos, the traditional opening day stakes, as Turf Paradise opens for its 63rd racing season Saturday, October 13.
 
Racing will be conducted primarily on a 5-day a week basis, Saturday thru Wednesday, with post time at 12:55 pm.
 
A new wager, the Grand Canyon Pick 6, will have its carryover pool seeded with $25,000, beginning opening day. A single winner of the bet will receive the entire carryover pool. However, multiple winners will receive a consolation payoff for having correctly selected the winners of six consecutive races, and the pool will continue to rollover until there is a single winner.
 
Opening day will also honor Native American veterans, military veterans and first responders. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is expected to participate in the opening day ceremonies and to present a trophy.
 
The first 5,000 patrons will receive a free Opening Day T-shirt. There will be free multiple bounce inflatables for the kids and live music.
 
Eight of the nine Bienvevido entrants have racked up a combined 20 victories this year. Success Rate is winless in seven outings.
 
Leadem in Ken will probably secure the favorite’s role off his five wins this season and his recent second place finish in Remington Park’s $200,000 David Vance Stakes. The 8-year-old horse finished second in this year’s edition of the Phoenix Gold Cup while en route to his four victories locally.
 
Kaabraaj won the Bienvenidos race in 2016, then finished fourth in that race in 2017. Kaabraaj has won three of six efforts locally.
 
Last meet’s leading trainer Robertino Diodoro, who’s won this race three times, has two entrants, Bourbon Cowboy, who is on a two race win skein and Izzy the Warrior.
 
 

There is more than one way to get involved in race horse ownership.
 
You can purchase a race horse privately and then turn it over to a trainer. You can have a trainer purchase a horse out of claiming race and get started in the business that way.
 
You can do it yourself by breeding a mare and stallion, then watch your horse grow up, and then hopefully get it to the race track for its maiden race.
 
Or you can purchase a horse, most often a yearling or two-year-old, at a sale.
 
Trainer Kevin Eikleberry has done all of the above, but the one he’s most adept at is, selecting and purchasing a yearling at a horse sale and developing it into a talent for its owner. Eikleberry’s skills with horses purchased at sales and his stable of 36 horses will again be on display as Turf Paradise opens its 131-day meet, October 13.
 
“I’ve been doing this for over 35 years,” said Eikleberry, referring to scouting, evaluating and purchasing talent at horse sales. “I go to the Keeneland yearling sales and the Arizona Breeders’ sale each year. I enjoy it, but it’s also hard work.”
 
Eikleberry may have an advantage over most of those hoping to find the next Kentucky Derby or Breeders’ Cup winner at a horse sale. In as much as each horse has a breeding line, Eikleberry has a lineage that precedes him in the horse business. Eikleberry’s grandfather, Guy, and his dad, Calvin, were horse trainers.
 
“Both my dad and grandad trained and raced horses at Centennial,”  said Eikleberry of the now closed Colorado track. “They would race at Oaklawn (Arkansas) and then make the meet at Centennial. Then they would go back to being ranchers.”
 
Growing up on a spacious three-sections of lush farmland near Springfield, Colorado, Eikleberry developed an affinity for horses.
 
“I loved the horses more than the steers and hogs,” said Eikleberry, who sat on his first horse at age two and who once had thoughts of being a jockey. “I liked to eat too much,” he admitted. “So being a jockey was not really an option.” No matter. Eikleberry’s son, Ry, who is approaching his 2,000th career win as a jockey, fulfilled that dream.
 
Eikleberry’s first victory came in 1979 with a filly named Bronco Mania. The 2-year-old miss went on to win four races in a row, including Centennial’s Molly Brown Stakes and the prestigious $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity against the boys.
 
“You always remember your first winner,” said Eikleberry, who is just 21 wins shy of his own milestone: 1,000 wins as a trainer. “Racing was now in my blood.”
 
Married, raising a family and with Centennial about to close, Eikleberry first came to Turf Paradise in 1980. Settling near the race track, the Eikleberry clan then moved to Cave Creek, a small equestrian community about 18 miles north of the Phoenix-based track, where the family has maintained an active horse raising and training ranch for the past 26 years.
 
“Training and developing each horse’s talent is something I enjoy and take pride in, not only for myself but for my owners as well,” said Eikleberry. “That’s why I continue to go to the sales.”
 
Eikleberry employs three standards when evaluating a horse at auction.
 
“Confirmation is number one,” said Eikleberry. “I’m looking for balance in the horse’s physique. Secondly I want to see the horse’s athletic talents: does he walk, run and stride out well. And third, I examine the pedigree. Who were his parents and what did they accomplish on the race track? I rate each category 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.”
 
There’s another factor Eikleberry weighs before making a bid.
 
“What is the owner willing to pay?” said Eikleberry. “My three points of evaluation have to matchup with what the owner‘s willing to pay. I’m evaluating the horse on whether or not it can win enough races to reach its purchase price.”
 
At the 1993 Keeneland sale, a yearling up for auction by rising sire Gone West, was not catching any buyers’ attentions except for Eikleberry.
 
“He may not have hit the 10 on my three rating scales, but there was something about this horse that held my interest,” said Eikleberry, who made the winning bid of $6,000.
 
The horse would be called Da Hoss and it would go onto to win 12 of 20 starts, including two $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Mile Turf races and earn $1.9 million.
 
After Da Hoss won the Arizona Sales Stakes in 1994 as a 2-year-old in an eye-catching 1:07.1 for 6 furlongs, Eikleberry’s phone rang off the hook.
 
“I got over 30 calls from interested parties,” said Eikleberry. “It was amazing.
 
Eventually Da Hoss was sold to Prestonwood Farm (for considerably more than his $6,000 purchase price) for an 85% interest, while original owners Wallstreet Racing Stable and Eikleberry retained a 15% interest. Da Hoss left Eikleberry’s care and was turned over to trainer Michael Dickinson.
 
Da Hoss’ most memorable feat was when after being away from the races for two years, he had one prep race and then came back to win his second Breeders’ Cup Mile Turf in 1998. The BC race was so dramatic that announcer Tom Durkin was given to exclaim as Da Hoss stormed to victory in deep stretch, “Oh, my, this is the greatest comeback since Lazarus!”
 
“Every year I go to the Keeneland sales I stop by Kentucky Horse Retirement Park and say hello to Da Hoss,” said Eikleberry.
 
Eikleberry’s recent stars-on-the-rise are Keeneland yearling purchases that are showing promise.
 
“Prince Pierce broke his maiden at first asking then finished second in a stakes at Prairie Meadows,” said Eikleberry. “And Sammy’s Dream just broke his maiden at Canterbury.”
 
Eikleberry’s good fortune at the horse sales is not confined to just Keeneland. His sharp eye for talent has also found success at the annual Arizona Breeders’ Sale.
 
The recently completed 2017-2018 Turf Paradise race meet saw his locally purchased Yo Y Me and Fortified Effort win out their auction prices.
 
“We purchased Yo Y Me for $17,000 and Fortified Effort for $35,000,” said Eikleberry. “Both went on to win over $200,000.”
 
Ever on the lookout for the next Diamond in the Rough, Eikleberry made three purchases at the recent Keeneland sales: a Constitutional colt for $90,000; a Tapazar colt for $40,000 and a Bodiemeister filly for $30,000.
 
“Before I got Da Hoss I was looking for one like him,” said Eikleberry. “Then I got him and it was better than I thought. Now I’m looking for the next Da Hoss.”
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Every sport has its records, its benchmarks achieved by its respective athletes.
 
Horse racing is no exception.
 
With Turf Paradise readying to kick off its 131-day race meet October 13, a few records to better will be in the bullseye. Racing will be conducted primarily on a 5-day a week basis, Saturday thru Wednesday, with post time of 12:55 pm.
 
Robertino Diodoro was the first trainer since Richard Hazelton, who dominated the division from 1970-1976 (with 8 consecutive titles), to win more than three consecutive titles. Diodoro will be going for his sixth consecutive title overall. Hazelton holds the overall record with 16 titles.
 
Among jockeys, Scott Stevens is in a league by himself after winning his ninth and record breaking title last season. Stevens had been tied with Jim Powell with eight titles each. Stevens, at 55, is still peaking and showing no signs of slowing down from when he won his first title in 1992.  Stevens best single season win mark is 186 victories in 1997. The record is held by the late Pat Steinberg with 229 wins in 1988.
 
Right out of the gate on opening day, Top 10 trainer Valorie Lund, will be looking to become the first trainer to be a three-time winner of the Bienvenidos Stakes in 23 runnings. A week later on October 20, Jeff Metz will be looking to become the first three-time consecutive winner with possible BCZ Middelton – who won this race the past two years - of the Princess of Palms Stakes.
 
Then on February 9, in the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup, which will be celebrating its 63rd running, the Shawn Davis-trained Chief Cicatriz, is expected to aspire to be the first three-time consecutive winner of the track’s prestigious sprint stakes.
 
 
 

One could say Ramiro Flores likes to play in the sand, and somewhat like Johnny Appleseed,  he enjoys scattering seeds about the land to generate lush pastures of emerald grasses.
 
Actually Flores, who serves as Turf Paradise’s track and turf course superintendent, takes his job super seriously. He’s not given to romanticizing the importance and responsibility of what he does.
 
“The goal of everything we do is to keep the dirt and grass courses safe for the horses that race over them,” said Flores. “A good day of racing for us is when horses and riders get around safely.”
 
Right now it’s all hands on deck for Flores and his dirt and turf crews of eight persons each, what with Turf Paradise’s 63rd racing season scheduled to open October 13.  The track is set to receive 1,800 horses into its 68 stables, so both the dirt and grass courses must be ready not only for the 131 days of racing but for the additional 100 days of training that go on daily, which begin September 15.
 
“Every year we replace the dirt course with fresh sand and the grass course is reseeded,” said Flores, who prior to Turf Paradise served as track superintendent at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana for a year. “It’s a science, a precise balance between sand and water for the dirt course and the right seed, water and aeration for the turf course.”
 
Flores’ “Tonka” equipment of the trade are tractors, a blade, water trucks and scrapper and two harrows. Each piece of equipment performs a particular function, with each function complementing the other. Each harrow, pulled around the one mile dirt oval by a tractor, is 18’ x 7’ in dimension and each contains 128, three-foot long, 5/8th inch steel teeth.
 
“The harrows groom the track,” said Flores. “They keep the dirt surface smooth, even and safe for the next race and for training in the morning.”
 
The one mile, 90-foot wide dirt course receives 1,500 tons of #10 mesh sand and then 480 cubic yards of bark before being mixed together multiple times.
 
“The #10 mesh is a superfine grain sand, not coarse, to prevent horses from running down on their feet and ankles,” said Flores. “The bark is mixed in, allowing the surface to retain moisture  and to give the sand bounce.”
 
The seven-furlong, 70’ foot wide turf course with its one mile and an eighth chute requires a different process and a lot of TLC.
 
“Seed and plenty of water and constant attention to replacing divots after each race is essential to maintaining the turf year long,” said Flores. “And periodic aeration to allow the earth to breathe causing the grass to deep root, is a must.”
 
The turf course receives 200 tons of sand which serves to breakdown the organic material so that the 3,000 pound of rye grass seed has every chance to germinate and thrive, making it appear that horses and jockeys are gliding quietly, as if sound has been muted, over a green carpet.
 
“Both surfaces require daily attention and repair because of the wear and tear,” said Flores. “Each and every horse getting around safe and sound is a win for us.”