Turf Paradise
  • RACING
    • LIVE RACING >
      • Program
      • Race Replays & Live Video
      • Entries & Results
      • Changes & Scratches
      • Stakes Schedule
      • Workouts
      • Track Information
    • SIMULCAST RACING >
      • OTB Finder
      • On & Off Track Simulcast Schedule
      • Simulcast Results
    • HORSEMEN >
      • Owner View
      • Condition Book
      • Thoroughbred Index
      • Quarter Horse Index
      • Overnight
      • Program
      • Claims Report
      • Stakes Schedule
      • Historical Charts
      • Jockeys/Agents
      • Stall Application
      • Horsemen's Bookkeeper
      • Incompass Account Information
      • Equine Pool
      • Track Kitchen
      • Chaplaincy
  • OFF TRACK BETTING
    • OTB FINDER
    • ON & OFF TRACK SIMULCAST SCHEDULE
    • SIMULCAST RESULTS
    • OTB INFORMATION
  • LATEST NEWS
    • LATEST NEWS
  • TRACK INFO
    • DIRECTIONS & PARKING
    • GENERAL INFORMATION >
      • Admission & Seating
      • Hotels - Airport
      • Track Information
      • Turf History
      • Employment Opportunities
      • Contact Us
    • FACILITY AREAS >
      • Grandstand
      • Clubhouse
      • Turf Club
      • Players' Club
      • Directors' Suite
    • FOOD & DRINK >
      • Turf Club
      • Clubhouse
      • Grandstand
      • Food & Drink Specials
  • VIDEOS
  • GROUP SALES
    • CORPORATE/SOCIAL EVENTS >
      • Information & Venues
      • Current Group Specials
      • Group Event Photos
    • RIDE & DRIVE EVENTS
    • CORPORATE OPPORTUNITIES
  • NEW FAN
    • ESSENTIALS OF HORSE RACING
    • BETTING 101
    • HOW TO READ THE PROGRAM
    • HOW TO READ THE RACING FORM
    • RACING GLOSSARY
    • RESPONSIBLE WAGERING

Written to respond to a post written by Mr. Bob Hutton, President of the AZHBPA

8/17/2020

 
Hutton_Response.pdf
File Size: 1521 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Dear Horsemen,
This letter is written to respond to a post written by Mr. Bob Hutton, President of the AZHBPA that appeared on Facebook on August 15. This letter is written to clarify some of the statements and impressions in Mr. Hutton’s letter. In other words, to set the record straight.

Mr. Simms has owned Turf for 20 years; 19 of those 20 years rac
e meets were successfully conducted, from beginning to end. It’s only this year, specifically when Governor Ducey declared a state of emergency on March 11 because of the Coronavirus that a race meet has been cut short. The Coronavirus is the only reason Turf cut short its race meet on March 14 and the only reason Turf withdrew its request before the Arizona Racing Commission on August 13 to run a race meet from Nov. 1 to May 1, 2021. Turf does not want the liability of running a race meet while the Coronavirus is active.

Settlement Agreement (Attachment 1) The Settlement Agreement was written by Mr. Casillas, Director of the Arizona Division of Racing, who also served as the mediator for Mr. Simms and Mr. Hutton as the two men compromised, negotiated and eventually signed the agreement in good faith on March 22. Either side could have argued specific points of the agreement or declined to sign the agreement. But both sides agreed to sign. Read Attachment 1 for the complete terms of the agreement.

In his posting Mr. Hutton gives the impression that the Settlement Agreement, which by definition is to settle differences between parties, was somehow arrived at without the consent of both parties. On the contrary, both Mr. Simms and Mr. Hutton signed the 14 point agreement. For example, the parties agreed to split the costs < 50‐50 > of maintaining the backside and training on the man track for 45 days. The AZHBPA was invoiced weekly and the invoices were promptly paid. When the 45 days expired the AZHBPA asked for an additional 10 days, at their own expense, and the request was granted.

It appears that Mr. Hutton’s personal feelings toward Mr. Simms and Turf are clouding his judgement. The HBPA is to be neutral, treating all tracks equally, but Turf is treated differently. When Arziona Downs abbreviated their race meet they continued to simulcast without racing live. When that track announced that it would not be able to conduct a meet because of Yavapai County and the City of Prescott Valley’s concerns about the Coronavirus, Arizona Downs, without objection from the AZHBPA, maintained their simulcasting and OTB system. Why not the same for Turf?

Arizona Downs Letter (Attachment 2) On May 22 Turf became aware of a letter from Mr. Dave Auther of Arizona Downs to Mr. Casillas. Specifically what caught our attention in the letter was the following that revealed how Arizona Downs was going to fund its purses: “This will include a contribution from the HBPA toward purses. HBPA has a plan to secure purse money from the Turf Paradise purse fund.” You cannot use the purse money of one race track to subsidize the purses of another track.

Mr. Hutton stated that without live racing there would be no simulcasting. Turf’s contract with the AZHBPA goes until May 2021. Turf expects the AZHBPA to honor that contract.

At a meeting in early August with Mr. Hutton and two members of
the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association in my office at Turf, Mr. Hutton asked me if I believed a contract existed between Turf and the AZHBPA. I replied in the affirmative that I believed a contract existed between us. Mr. Hutton then asked Mr. Simms (who was participating by phone) the same question. Mr. Simms answered that he not only believed a contract existed but that it was in effect until May 2021. Mr. Hutton responded that he did not believe a contract existed because we cancelled the race meet due to the Coronavirus, thus rendering the contract void. Mr. Simms then asked Mr. Hutton that if he really believed that, then why are we having a discussion about contractual matters. Mr. Simms then said, “Let’s continue to talk.” Mr. Hutton then stood up abruptly and said “We’re done,” and left my office.

The abrupt ending of the meeting notwithstanding, Turf has never declined a phone call, an email/ text or a request to meet with the AZHPBA. That door is still open.

Sincerely,
Vincent Francia
General Manager

See pdf document above for the rest of the attachement.

Turf Paradise Cancels Meet Because Of Coronavirus

8/13/2020

 
Turf Paradise has cancelled the upcoming meet due to the Coronavirus. The restrictions on larger crowds at the facility combined with the economic uncertainties associated with periodic closures and necessary social distance requirements, make it impossible for Turf Paradise to conduct a financially practical race meet for both the track and the horsemen. 

On August 13, Turf Paradise informed the Arizona Racing Commission that it must decline the proposed race dates, 121 days, which would have spanned from November to May. The track’s normal race meet days have traditionally gone from October to May.
 
In addition to challenges regarding spectators, horse racing requires large groups of people to work together in close proximity. Racing involves far more people than just jockeys; there are pony riders, outriders, and track maintenance crews. About 1,000 people work in close proximity in the stable area.
 
Uncertainty surrounding the operation of bars that host Off Track Betting locations was also a factor as frequent closures, ongoing restrictions, and a general decline in business because of the Coronavirus greatly reduced revenues from OTB’s.
 
“Health concerns and economic realities have left us with no choice but the cancel the meet,” said Vince Francia, Turf Paradise General Manager.
 
Turf Paradise is Arizona’s first sports franchise, and has operated continuously at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell since 1956. 

    Archives

    March 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed


HOME    LOCATION    CONTACT    JOBS    HOTELS    BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES

Visit us!
Picture
Sign Up for Email Updates
Latino

BACK TO TOP

Tel: 602-942-1101

Copyright 2020 @ Turf Paradise. All Rights Reserved.



Turf Paradise