As the Valley gets ready to welcome another NFL Championship game, Arizona’s first sports franchise, Turf Paradise, is thanking its local fans with live local horseracing, free T-Shirts, live music, an opportunity to meet the jockeys.

Decades before the Cardinals scored their first touchdown in Arizona, years before the Phoenix Suns sunk their first basket, and long before the Mercury, or Coyotes decided to set up shop in Arizona, there was Turf Paradise, Arizona’s first sports franchise.

On February 11th  Turf Paradise celebrates 67 years in Phoenix with a giant party that includes free T-Shirts for the first 3,000 paid admissions and a full card of live local horseracing including the $60,000 Turf Paradise Turf Stakes and the $60,000 Molly P. Stakes.

There’s also live music and a family fun park with bounce house inflatables. Turf Paradise is committed to offering affordable family fun to the community it has served for more than six decades. General admission is just $3 and general parking is free. The day also features$3 hotdogs and $5 Michelob Ultras.
Gates open at 11am.

Turf Paradise has continually operated at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell since 1956. When it first opened, there were no paved roads in the area and few if any homes. Today an entire city has grown up around this iconic racetrack.
In addition to live local horseracing Turf Paradise is also home to Unibet Sports Book allowing fans to bet on their favorite sports teams.

“Whether you are a casual fan, an expert handicapper, or simply looking for a great way to spend the day with your family Turf Paradise is a sure thing when it comes to affordable family fun,” said Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia.”
Media seeking interviews with jockeys, trainers, and longtime employees can contact Mike Scerbo at Mscerbo@TurfParadise.net or 602 615 6523.

Turf Paradise at 19th Ave and Bell opened its doors in 1956 and is Arizona’s First Sports franchise. It is home to Unibet Sports Book and operates more than 40 Off Track Betting locations in Arizona.

After an especially wet winter forced Turf Paradise to cancel numerous races, the Phoenix racetrack took the bold step of renovating its racing surface.

The renovation was overseen by Turf Paradise Track Consultant Steve Wood, one of the most renowned racetrack experts in the country. Mr. Wood is a former track superintendent for Oak Tree, Del Mar, and Santa Anita race meets.
In order to give the racing surface a fresh start, 19,000 tons of existing dirt and sand was removed from the main track. Crews also lowered the drain inside the rail by 8 inches to ensure proper drainage.

Crews then added 12 hundred tons of quality sand and 450 yards of organics. Wood used the highest-grade sand (#10 Mesh) available with the smallest grain diameter. The track was surveyed with a sonar grader and rechecked with a handheld laser. While the materials are new and high quality, Wood said the overall composition should be familiar enough to the horses accustomed to racing at Turf Paradise.

Wood notes that the surface was surveyed within a third of an inch, “And is as perfect as we can get it.” Crews also surveyed both chutes and added sand to them as well.

The training track was rebuilt with the materials removed from the main track and that track has been surveyed as well. The sand was also repurposed to improve the bridle paths on the backside.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “Maintaining the best and safest racing surface for our horses and jockeys is the priority.”
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So as to prevent any major disruptions to the racing schedule, the track renovations were completed in three and a half days. And to ensure continued track quality, grade markers have been posted every 8th of a mile.
Click here to see a short video on some of the renovation efforts.
 
Turf Paradise at 19th Ave and Bell opened its doors in 1956 and is Arizona’s First Sports franchise. It is home to Unibet Sports Book and operates more than 40 Off Track Betting locations in Arizona.