Today (Tuesday, March 17) Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego ordered all bars and restaurants in the City to close until April 1 due to the Coronavirus. This, of course, affects all of Turf Paradise’s OTBs as well as the track itself, since the track and over 40 OTBs are located in Phoenix’s jurisdiction. Other cities where OTBs are located have followed suit. Therefore all Turf Paradise OTBs will be closed along with the Clubhouse until further notice.

Turf Paradise is ending its season immediately due to the Coronavirus, and to assist Arizona in slowing the spread of the illness. As state and federal officials discourage gatherings of large crowds, Turf Paradise feels compelled to do the responsible thing and end the season early.
 
Recently Governor Doug Ducey declared a public health emergency and he signed a bill that would spend $55 million in Arizona to combat the virus. Turf’s decision to end the season early is in support of Arizona’s public health effort.
 
The track’s Clubhouse and Turf’s network of Off Track Betting locations will remain open for simulcasting at other tracks. In the off-season, the Clubhouse entertains relatively small groups and the risk is minimal.
 
Typically, special event days at Turf Paradise draw crowds of more than 6,000 in addition to hundreds of employees, horsemen, and jockeys.
 
Live racing had been scheduled to run until May 3rd. Media reports indicate the Kentucky Derby, scheduled for May 2nd, may be postponed because of the Coronavirus. Live racing at Turf Paradise will resume in mid-October which is the traditional start of the season.

Rillito Park in Tucson has suspended live racing.
 
Turf Paradise joins professional basketball, baseball, and hockey leagues in suspending large scale events to prevent the spread of the disease. While there have been no documented cases of Coronavirus at Turf Paradise, track management feels it is important to be proactive and to put the health of the fans, employees, horsemen and jockeys first. While this decision will financially impact Turf Paradise, the track places a higher value on being a responsible corporate citizen which has been operating in Arizona since 1956.
 
The NBA initially sought to have teams play to empty venues. However as the risks increased the NBA made the decision to conclude its season early.
 
Conducting a horse races requires large groups of people to work together in close proximity. In addition to jockeys, there are pony riders, outriders, and track maintenance crews. About 1,000 people work in close proximity in the stable area. 
 
“The State of Arizona, Governor Ducey, and responsible sports franchise and business owners are all working together to slow or halt the spread of the Coronavirus. Arizona is at its best when everyone does their part in a crisis,” said Vince Francia, Turf Paradise General Manager.
 
Francia added, “Horseracing involves large numbers of people who must compete and work in close proximity to each other. It would be irresponsible to put them at risk of getting the Coronavirus. As soon as this crisis is over, we look forward to getting back to the business of providing Arizona with thrilling live, local horseracing.”
 
Turf Paradise is Arizona’s first sports franchise, and has operated continuously at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell since 1956.

It was 1976 at Les Bois Park in Boise, Idaho, when Scott Stevens, a few months shy of the legal age of 16-years-old requirement, recorded his first career victory aboard a horse named Truckin Again.
 
Forty-four years later to March 9, 2020 at Turf Paradise Race Course in Phoenix, Arizona, Stevens notched his 5,000th career win aboard Royal Privacy.
 
“A jockey never forgets his first winner,” said Stevens. “And I certainly will remember my 5,000th one. In truth, I’m glad that’s over. My fellow riders certainly didn’t make it easy.”
 
In his last eight mounts leading up to the milestone, Stevens had to settle for five seconds, four of those just a noses or heads shy of the win.
 
“I’m glad I was able to do this for Sandi (Gann),” said Stevens of Royal Privacy’s trainer. Gann is the only female rider to win the Leading Jockey’s title at Turf in 1991 before embarking on her career as a trainer, following a career ending injury as a rider.
 
Stevens, 59, - who has no thoughts of retiring - admits that he doesn’t ride as many horses per year as he once did.
 
“I used to ride about 1,200 horses per year,” he said. “Now I do about 600. Right after the Turf meet ends in early May, I take the summer off and travel. But I’ll ride stakes during the off months.”
 
When Stevens first came to Turf in 1992 he made an impression: he won the leading rider’s title with 155 wins. He then proceeded to capture eight more titles, five of them in succession from 1994-1999.
 
The glamor of being a race rider comes coupled with the ever-existing danger of injury – or worse - that every jockey faces each time they go out on the track.
 
“I’ve broken my collar bone seven times; plenty of cracked ribs and other injuries,” revealed Stevens.
 
(In recent evidence of the inherent dangers of the sport came March, 7, when Stevens, seemingly heading to his 5,000th win in deep stretch, got unseated and thrown hard to the turf when his mount Stratton suffered a catastrophic injury. “I’m ok,” he said, following the spill. “I’ll be sore tonight.” Stevens took off the following race then returned in the eighth and final race, a 1 ½ mile marathon on the grass, to finish a close-up third. “I just want to get this done now,” he said.
 
But there was one injury that occurred in 2010 at Canterbury Downs in Minnesota that Scott thought he might not walk away from.
 
“My horse went down while I was on the lead and the field couldn’t avoid me,” recalled Stevens. “I couldn’t move and both my lungs were collapsed; all my ribs fractured, cracked or broken. They had to medevac me to the hospital. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. It was all in God’s hands.”
 
Stevens credits Pam, his “better half,” for over 20 years, with saving his life that day. “She’s a respiratory nurse in a hospital trauma center (in Phoenix). She was visiting me that day and knew exactly what to do and advise the para-medics.”
 
Stevens survived the ordeal, admitting that it made him realize “just how precious every day is,” and within four and one-half months he was back in the saddle.
 
“Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of being a jockey,” said Stevens. “So I’ve been very lucky because my dream came true. Being a jockey isn’t a job to me. It’s my life.”
 
The current milestone puts Stevens 35th on the Top 100 jockeys list, with retired rider Russell Baze, Numero Uno with 12,842 career wins. Stevens younger brother, Hall of Fame and retired rider Gary Stevens, ended his career with 5,187 victories to rank 32nd among the Top 100 riders.
“My goal now isn’t to better Gary,” Stevens said. “It’s to win my next race.”
Note: In the four decades-plus that Stevens has plied his trade, he has ridden over 33,205 mounts. To complement Stevens 5,000 win plateau he has finished second 4,766 times and third 4,641 for over $43,134,930 in earnings.

Turf Paradise is giving away wallets March 21st and will be welcoming back the Budweiser Clydesdales.
 
The first 4,000 paid admissions will get a free wallet and each wallet will contain a voucher which can be used to place a bet, (for customers 21 and up) or be redeemed for cash value. The value of the vouchers will range from $2 to $100. It depends on the luck of the draw.  The vouchers have a combined value of $12,000.

At the end of the day there will be a drawing in which a lucky group of attendees will compete for $1000 based on the outcome of the last race of the day.
 
 The Budweiser Clydesdales are also returning to Turf Paradise Saturday March 21st.  Gates open at 11am. The Clydesdales arrive at noon and will perform on the main track around 1pm just before the first 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.  General parking is free. There is also a full card of live horseracing.  The day also includes $4 Bud and Bud Light aluminum bottled beer, live music, and a kids fun park with bounce house inflatables.
 
Wallet Day is sponsored by the Arizona Horseman’s Benevolent & Protective Association (AZHBPA).
 
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.
 
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.