Turf Paradise is not going out of business. The Phoenix-based track that was the Valley of the Sun’s first sports franchise when it first opened in 1956, is not closing its doors. We wish to dispel any concerns you might have or rumors you may have heard, because effective Saturday, January 25, Turf Paradise was ordered to stop offering simulcast wagering on Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Golden Gate, etc.

Why You Can’t Bet on Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Golden Gate, etc., at This Time

At a Racing Commission meeting on Friday, January 24, a motion was made and passed by three of the Arizona Racing Commissioners that the law (HB 2547) would have to be followed by the three race tracks in the state, Turf Paradise, Arizona Downs and Rillito Park.

What HB 2547 basically says is that, all simulcast providers sending their races into Arizona have to offer their race products to all tracks and all their Off Track Betting parlors (OTB) equally. In other words, what is offered to one must be offered to all. The constitutionality of HB 2547 is being litigated in the courts right now.

The Monarch Corporation, owned by Santa Anita, provides race signals to the three Arizona race tracks. Signals like, Santa Anita, Gulfstream Park, Laurel Park, Tampa Bay, to name a few. Monarch also sends its race signals to Turf Paradise’s 60 OTB locations. However, Monarch and Arizona Downs are currently in a contract dispute and Monarch does not send its race products to the one Arizona Downs OTB that is still in operation. Monarch has its own reasons for this decision. Among those reasons is that having competing OTB networks in the same state only results in both of them failing. Thus the Racing Commission ruled that Monarch was in violation of HB 2547, despite the fact that the constitutionality is currently being litigated in the courts, and that Turf Paradise and the other two race tracks had to cease immediately accepting wagers on race tracks from Monarch.

So, What’s Being Done About This?

Turf Paradise is doing everything it can as fast as it can to help get this matter corrected. We know you support Turf Paradise live racing and that you also enjoy the many simulcast tracks Turf offers for your wagering pleasure. We appreciate your business and dedication and apologize for any inconvenience this interruption has caused.
If you wish to state your opinion/complaints to the Arizona Department of Racing, the number to call is (602) 364-1700.

Stay tuned to this site for additional updates.


Vincent Francia
General Manager

The biggest day in Arizona horseracing has everything. That’s why it’s called Super Saturday. February 8 is Super Saturday at Turf Paradise and will feature three major stakes races and the Budweiser Classic. Plus a full card of live horseracing.  The day also features a Bulldog Costume Contest and race, and a special meet and greet with the Turf Paradise Jockey Colony.
 
It doesn’t end there.  The first 5000 paid admissions will get a free T-shirt.  Grandstand admission is just $3. Kids 16 and under get in for free. General parking is also free.
 
Super Saturday includes these stakes races.
The $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup
The $30,000 Turf Paradise Handicap
The $30,000 Sun City Handicap
 
Fans will have the opportunity to meet the jockeys at Turf through a meet and greet from 11am to noon on the track apron. The jockeys will be signing copies of the Jockey Colony photo.
 
The Bulldogs are also returning to Turf Paradise. They will be racing from 11am to noon. Then a Bulldog costume contest will follow.

Registration is NOW OPEN. For more information email  [email protected]
 
The day also features:
Live Music
A Kids Fun Park with bounce house inflatables, pony rides and face painting
$3 bottled beer
A BBQ Tent
Free T-shirts for first 5000 paid admissions
A full card of live horse racing


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.
 

The newly turned sophomore class will be taking to the grass in the $25,000 Startac and $25,000  Jeff and Jack Coady Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Both stakes are for 3-year-olds and both will be contested at 7 ½ furlongs over the turf. The Startac, which drew six entrants will go as the third race and the Jeff and Jack Coady, which attracted nine fillies, will go as the seventh race on the eight-race card. Post time is set for 12:40 pm.
 
$25,000 Startac
On paper this appears to be a match race between 3-5 morning line favorite Wicked Winnings and 9-5 second choice Tenacious Moon. The two hooked up in a one mile allowance contest Dec. 23 with Wicked Winnings drawing away by 7 ½ lengths over Tenacious Moon who finished third.
 
But the Startac in on the grass, a first time surface for Wicked Winnings, who’s breeding is really more for dirt than turf. Tenacious Moon broke his maiden on the turf and is bred on the sire and dam side to relish the lawn.
 
For longshot players, the turf bred Barbara’s Champ may wake up on the grass and spoil the party for the two favorites.
 
$25,000 Jeff and Jack Coady
Difficult to find fault with a horse that has won 5 of its 8 outings. Thus, Arizona Sun gets to play the 2-1 favorite’s role in her first outing over the grass. The daughter of Ministers Wild Cat won at first asking, then won the Debutante Stakes at Assiniboia Downs in Canada, then won two of Turf’s juvenile stakes. Trained by Robertino Diodoro, Arizona Sun turned in a bullet work Jan. 18 of :58.4 for 5 furlongs, best of 11 workers on the tab.
 
But this is no easy spot for Arizona Sun. Four shippers, three from California and one from the mid-west have interesting resumes.
 
Golden Gate shipper The Adrie (5-2) already has two wins on the turf.
Street Flyer (6-1), a granddaughter of Irish turf ace Street Cry has been racing with moderate success at seven different tracks from Indiana Downs to Keeneland to Monmouth Park.
And Navy Queen (5-1) has been doing battle with a lot tougher company in southern California.  

Canadian shipper Summerland made her Arizona debut a winning won by capturing the $25,000 Sun Devil Stakes Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Ridden by Sahin Civaci, Summerland ($5.80) had 1 ¼ lengths on Tee Em Eye with Foggia third in the field of six fillies and mares.
 
Owned by George Gilbert and trained by Phil Hall, Summerland, a granddaughter of Seattle Slew, covered the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.27 for her ninth victory in 13 outings and her sixth stakes tally.

In an encore performance California shipper Ohio again won this track marquee turf race, the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
Ohio became the first repeat victor in the 15 runnings of the race named after the legendary coach of the Phoenix Suns basketball team. Cotton’s widow, Joann, once again presented the winner’s trophy along with many former Suns players, friends and local media.
 
The Brazilian bred Ohio, who won this race last year by 6 ½ lengths for trainer Michael McCarthy, posted only a quarter length margin this time around over a very determined local entry Arizona Moon trained by Stacy Campo. The Irish bred River Boyne, also a west coast shipper, finished third in the field of 11 older horses.
 
Ridden by Jose Valdivia, Jr. the favored Ohio ($4.80) overtook the pace-setting Mr. Jagermeister (who finished fourth) as the field turned for home and then had to withstand the determined side-by-side challenge of Arizona Moon.
 
Owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Bruce Treitman, Ohio covered the one mile over a turf course rated good in 1:35.85, matching last year’s final time.
 
“He’s getting a little long in the tooth,” McCarthy said of the 9-year-old Ohio. “But who knows. Maybe we’ll be back next year for a three peat.”
 
$30,000 Glendale Handicap
Kool Kate ($9.20) under Chad Lindsay took the lead and the victory for owners Marvin Johnson, Seven Arms Stable and Dennis Smith. It was another 3 ¾ lengths back to California shipper Saburai with Unique Factor third in the field of 11 fillies and mares.
 
Trained by David Van Winkle, Kool Kate covered the 1 1/16 miles over a good course in 1:42.49 for her tenth win in 23 career outings.

Ohio, last year’s decisive winner of this track’s marquee turf stakes, returns looking to repeat that victory in the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile Saturday at Turf Paradise. The day also marks the track’s 64th birthday celebration.
 
Saturday’s supporting stakes feature will be the $30,000 Glendale Handicap for 4-year-olds and up fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. The Fitzsimmons will be contested at one mile on the grass. Both stakes attracted full field of 12 entrants.
 
The Glendale will go as the fifth race and the Fitzsimmons Mile as the eighth and final race. Post time is set for 12:40 pm.
 
Birthday celebrations include a free horse racing designed, long sleeve T-shirt to the first 4,000 fans. There will be free multiple bounce inflatables for the kids and a Fifties Classic Car exhibition in the family picnic grove. There will also be live music by the Aaron Nelson Project. To top off the fan amenities, there will be free birthday cake
 
Also, the Grand Canyon Pick 6 carryover pool must be paid out on Saturday.
 
Named after the legendary Phoenix Suns basketball coach, who was also an avid horse racing fan, the Cotton Fitzsimmons will be celebrating its 15th running. As is custom, Cotton’s widow, Joann, always accompanied by former Phoenix Suns players and local media, will present the winner’s trophy.
 
Starting his career in Brazil in 2014, Ohio made his first US start in 2016 at Santa Anita a winning one. After capturing the Fitzsimmons last year by a decisive 6 ½ lengths for his first career stakes victory, Ohio returned to his homebase in southern California and won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Stakes at Santa Anita. The 9-year-old Brazilian bred son of Elusive Quality has competed only in graded stakes since then with moderate success. Trained by Michael McCarthy and to be ridden by Jose Valdivia, Ohio’s victory Saturday would mark the first two-time winner of the Fitzsimmons Mile. Ohio has been installed the morning line 9/5 favorite.
 
Ohio best bring his A game because among the shippers and locals are several that show they can upset the defending champ.
 
At 2-1 another California shipper, the Irish bred River Boyne, who has been very competitive in graded stakes company, cannot be over looked. Among his graded stakes wins are La Jolla (G3), Twilight Derby (G2) and Breeders Mile (G2), as well as runner-up finishes in the Hollywood Derby (G1), San Francisco Mile (G3) and Shoemaker Mile (G2).
 
Locally Gato Guapo (5-1), who finished third to Ohio last year in this race and the multiple stakes winning and brilliantly fast Mr. Jagermeister (6-1) figure to have a say in the outcome of a very competitive Fitzsimmons Mile.