There is only one Kentucky Derby Party in Arizona where you can watch, wager, and win on the Kentucky Derby broadcast AND live local horseracing.  

The biggest and best Kentucky Derby party is Saturday May 4 at Turf Paradise.  The first 5,000 paid admissions get a free Kentucky Derby commemorative glass.

It’s a full on Kentucky Derby Party with an over the top fashion contest, food and drink specials including Mint Juleps, live music, a kids fun park with bounce house inflatables, and a special performance by the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.  
 
For those who can’t make it to the track, there are more than 50 Off Track Betting sites where you can bet on the Derby and live racing at Turf Paradise.
 
Grandstand admission is just $5, and kids 16 and under get in free for grandstand only. Grandstand seating is on a first come first serve basis.
 
For a look at highlights from last year’s Kentucky Derby Party click here.
 
The gates open 7:15am. The first Turf Paradise live post is 11:30am. The Kentucky Derby is approximately 3:46pm.  Those times are subject to change without notice, please check our Kentucky Derby Page for the most current times. General self-parking at Turf Paradise is FREE. Valet parking is available for $15.
 
For those wanting to kick it up a notch, there are all day buffets in the air conditioned comfort of Turf’s Directors’ Suite, Turf Club, and Club House. Reservations are required. Details are on our Kentucky Derby Page.  A reserved seating customers will receive a free Derby commemorative glass while supplies last.

RESERVATIONS ARE ACCEPTED BEGINNING APRIL 1ST

"Top of the Park" Directors Suite Buffet $90     
Reservations:  602-375-6478

Turf Club All Day Buffet $90
Reservations: 602-375-6472

Turf Terrace Ballroom & Attached Patio $90
Includes all day buffet.
Reservations: 602-375-6478
 
Clubhouse All Day Buffet $69
Clubhouse Reservations: 602-375-6470

Blue Moon Pavilion Buffet $60
Price includes a continental breakfast and a BBQ lunch buffet.
Reservations: 602-375-6478
 
Party on the Rail $210 for a table of six or $35 per individual
Prime outdoor seating/Includes BBQ Combo Meal. Reservations:  602-375-6412

Tickets are also on sale now for a trackside experience in luxury tents. Tickets are on sale NOW for the all new Bulleit Bourbon Derby DayClub which includes admission to air-cooled tents featuring betting terminals, big-screen TV’s and a DJ. There are also VIP options. For information or to buy tickets for the Derby DayClub click here.
 
Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “From the Director’s Suite to the Grandstand bleachers, we offer plenty of options and price levels to watch, wager and win at our Kentucky Derby Party celebrating the greatest two minutes in sports.”

Turf Paradise opened its doors in in 1956 and has been at 19th Ave. and Bell Road ever since making it Arizona’s first sports franchise.

A horseplayer had the only winning ticket worth $349,690 after correctly selecting the winners of six consecutive races Monday at Turf Paradise Race Course.


The wager, called the Grand Canyon Pick Six, not only requires the bettor to correctly select the winners of six consecutive races but also that the bettor be the only one with the winning ticket. The winning horseplayer is based in Nevada.


When there is no single winning ticket, a carryover pool is generated and keeps rolling over until a single winning ticket occurs. The carryover pool had been rolling over for the past 26 race days until being hit for $349,690 Monday.


The winning horses and their win prices of the races 3 thru 8 which comprise the Grand Canyon Pick Six were: Jazz Night ($37.60), Parliamentarian ($7.60), Love of Art ($12.60), Peacock Cowboy ($8.40), Masterful Stride ($31.20) and Famous Rock Star ($3.40). The winning numbers were 3-2-8-7-11-1. The minimum wager for the Grand Canyon Pick 6 is 20 cents.   


Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “The excitement has been building for weeks as the jackpot grew but we finally have a winner who possessed the right combination of skill and luck.”

The payout comes just days before tickets go on sale for Turf Paradise’s Kentucky Derby Party. The Phoenix track will begin accepting reservations April 1st for its one of a kind Derby Party that lets fans watch and wager on the Derby and also enjoy and wager on live local horseracing. The Turf Paradise Kentucky Derby Party takes place May 4th. For more information click here.

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 $30,000 Wildcat Handicap and the $30,000-added Arizona Stallion Stakes will be the featured races Saturday at Turf Paradise.
 
The Wildcat, the traditional prep for the marathon closing-day feature 1 7/8 mile Hasta la Vista Handicap, will be run at 1 3/8 on the turf and drew a field of ten. The Arizona Stallion Stakes, which came up with six entrants, will be run at one mile on the main track.
 
Wildcat Handicap (8th Race)
There’s talent a plenty in this race filled with grass specialists with three of the ten entrants coming off wins, including the winner of the Turf Distance series, Tiger by His Tail, at the 1 ½ mile distance. That one will be looking for his fourth consecutive victory and retains leading rider Francisco Arrieta who cruised to an easy 2 ¾ length win in his last start.
 
Where Tiger by His Tail likes to play the game on the lead, Spooky Channel, likes to bide his time watching the competition and then come roaring late. The 4-year-old son of turf ace English Channel, has won his last three grass efforts in this wait and pounce fashion and has won of four of six career efforts.
 
Crown the Kitten shipped over from Santa Anita and won locally at first asking on March 19. The 7-year-old son of prized grass stallion Kitten’s Joy has won five of 35 efforts on the grass with 11 seconds and 6 thirds. His $361,551 bankroll outranks all the other entrants’ purse summaries by far.
 
Yo Y Me, second in earnings with over a quarter of a million dollars, found his path blocked in his turf debut on March 19.
 
Stratton, who finished third in this race last year on his way to winning the Hasta la Vista, has shown an affinity for the local grass course, having won five of 15 outings with 2 seconds and 5 thirds.
 
Arizona Stallion Stakes (3rd Race)
Trainer Kevin Eikleberry has half of the six-horse field, with Loud N Proud and the fillies Diva’s Diva and Let Me Fly. The remaining three starters are the first-time starter Tapit at Midnight, Linemans Check and the filly Hit the Deck.

Turf Paradise, which has been entertaining horseracing fans since 1956,  is thanking its fans March 23rd. It’s Fan Appreciation Day at Turf Paradise. The first 4,000 paid admissions will get a free horseracing wall clock. The day also features a full card of live horseracing.
 
The day begins with a one of a kind a bulldog costume contest. To register for the contest email AlbertTheBulldog@cox.net. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Bulldog Rescue of Arizona.  Earlier this month, the annual wiener dog races at Turf Paradise helped to raise more than $19,000 for Arizona Adopt a Greyhound and Happy Tails Doxie rescue. Grandstand admission for Fan Appreciation Day March 23 is $3. General Parking is free. Gates Open at 11am.
First post time is 1:25pm.
 
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

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 event is sponsored by the AZHBPA

Trainer Kevin Eikleberry celebrated his 1,000th win when Nevadan won the second race at Turf Paradise March 12th.

Kevin wasn’t sure he would ever make it to 1,000 wins given he is based in a smaller circuit. One of his most memorable horses was Da Hoss who started at Turf Paradise and later went on to win the Breeders Turf Mile twice.

One of his favorite horses is Peppy Miller which recently retired. Kevin said, “She did everything I ever asked her to do. She would run in the dirt, she would run in the grass. Probably one of the hardest trying horses I ever had.”

Kevin’s father and grandfather trained horses and his son, Ry, is a jockey. Kevin said, “It’s in the blood it’s in the family so we just keep rolling on.

Kevin Eikleberry has been training horses since 1979, the same year he got his first victory. He starting training horses at Turf Paradise in 1980. He owns a ranch in Cave Creek.

Jockey Scott Stevens, whose lifetime thoroughbred wins number 4890 and counting, has been selected by a nationwide vote of his peers as the winner of the 2019 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award.

Stevens outpolled fellow riders Joe Bravo, Kerwin Clark, John Davila, Jr. and Julien Leparoux for the honor.
Stevens considers the award a highpoint of a career that began in 1976, “There’s so many deserving riders and I probably came from one of the smallest circuits that’s ever won it so you’re not as famous as some of the riders riding at the big tracks.”

Stevens spends much of the year at Turf Paradise and lives in Phoenix. At Turf he is a fan favorite, with a record that includes nine times as the top jockey of the meet. He is also a good will ambassador of horseracing. “I have always tried to conduct myself in a good manner. Horseracing has been my life and I have tried to present myself and the sport the best I can. I guess it finally paid off,” said Stevens.

At 58 he stays in shape and has no plans to retire, “I’m still having fun. This is what I do.”

Stevens has countless stakes wins at Turf Paradise under his belt including the Phoenix Gold Cup on Rotsaluck in 1997 and the first Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile in 2005 on a horse named Grimm.

Stevens credits the owners and trainers who have trusted him over the years as well as his agents.
Stevens, who is a grandfather, says some of his grandchildren have recently shown interest in horseracing.

Turf Paradise, which has been entertaining horseracing fans since 1956,  is thanking its fans March 23rd. It’s Fan Appreciation Day at Turf Paradise. The first 4,000 paid admissions will get a free horseracing wall clock. The day also features a full card of live horseracing.
 
The day begins with a one of a kind a bulldog costume contest. To register for the contest email AlbertTheBulldog@cox.net. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Bulldog Rescue of Arizona.  Earlier this month, the annual wiener dog races at Turf Paradise helped to raise more than $19,000 for Arizona Adopt a Greyhound and Happy Tails Doxie rescue. Grandstand admission for Fan Appreciation Day March 23 is $3. General Parking is free. Gates Open at 11am. First post time is 1:25pm.
 
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

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 event is sponsored by the AZHBPA.

Phoenix-based Turf Paradise, Arizona’s largest horseracing track, has initiated a new protocol to address an unfortunate and as yet unexplained increase in equine injuries.

Starting March 18th, all horses racing on a given day will receive pre-race veterinary exams. The new policy is part of the track’s efforts to provide the safest conditions possible for horses and riders. Previously, about 15 horses received pre-race exams per day based on recommendations made by the stewards. By expanding this to ALL horses racing on a given day, this will result in about 65 horses being examined on race days.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “We feel this practice of pre-race exams has already proved beneficial and we want to amp it to include all horses on any given race day to come under veterinary inspections.”

** Samples of the track surface have also been reviewed by one of the nations’ leading experts on racetrack conditions, Dr. Michael Peterson of the Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory in Kentucky. The lab, which operates as part of the University of Kentucky’s Ag Equine Programs, was sent samples of the dirt track and a lab analysis found it to be uniform, which is the goal for any racetrack. The study did find the balance was slightly off with respect to sand content, but this is a recent occurrence brought about by recent rains and is not related to last season’s injury spike. More sand has been added to correct the problem. Future track soil samples will be sent to Peterson’s lab every 15 days or following major rains.

In addition, a team of statisticians is looking over racetrack data to look for less obvious causes and factors related to equine injuries. The study is being conducted by Northern Arizona University’s Alliance Bank Economic Policy Institute, Arizona State University Assistant Professor of Math and Statistical Science Dr. Yi Zheng, and the Statport Group which is a private sector company with expertise in data analysis and equine insurance.

As recently as the 2015/2016 season the fatality rate was within industry norms. It experienced an increase in the 2017/18 season has been seeking solutions and taking proactive steps to address the problem.
Although there has been no clear connection between flat track motorcycle racing which takes place after the meet and the increase in horse deaths, in an abundance of caution the track will not be hosting the event.

Turf Paradise has some of the strictest drug testing polices in the nation which were recently enacted at the urging of General Manager Vince Francia. When equine herpes virus starting impacting tracks nationwide, Turf Paradise and Francia took aggressive measures and successfully prevented a widespread outbreak at Turf.

Turf Paradise is one of a handful of racetracks that operates an onsite equine therapy swimming pool with the goal of reducing on track injuries. It recently purchased new machinery to groom the dirt tracks and has consistently remained vigilant when it comes to track safety. That includes regular inspections of the dirt and grass tracks, regular meetings held by industry experts, and post mortem equine exams.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “Our goal is to learn why we saw an increase last year and take decisive action now to prevent more equine injuries this year. Turf Paradise has stayed in business for more than 60 years because of the deep respect it has for the fans, the horsemen (and women), and the majestic animals that make all of this possible.”


**An earlier version of this news release mistakenly implied that Dr. Peterson personally inspected the track. That was not the case. Track soil samples were sent to his lab but Dr. Peterson did not make an onsite inspection.  Turf Paradise apologies for the error.