After breaking stride near the finish line, Turf Paradise management and the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) have finally signed an agreement to host an 84-day live race meet, running from January 4 thru May 1, 2021.
 
An eleventh hour snafu over wording in the Agreement between the two parties caused the 24-hour deadline for submission of agenda items to the Arizona Racing Commission to be missed. The Commission is scheduled to meet in special session tomorrow (Friday, October 30) to approve the race dates, as well to consider contracts for the upcoming Breeders’ Cup simulcasts. The Commission will still meet to approve the contracts. The request for approval of the 84-day meet will now be scheduled for the regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Commission on November 12.
 
“Many thanks to Arizona Racing Director Rudy Casillas for hosting the forum for dialogue between the two parties,” said Turf’s general manager Vincent Francia. “An equal amount of thanks to AZHBPA President Bob Hutton and track owner Jerry Simms for committing to dialogue until everything was resolved. Now, it’s time to race.”
 
The 84-day meet will be conducted on a 5-day a week schedule, Monday thru Friday with post time set for 12:30 pm. The lone exception to the schedule is Kentucky Derby Day, Saturday, May 1.
 
Horsemen will arrive Nov. 19 to prepare their stalls; horses will arrive Nov. 25. The first condition book and stakes schedule are published at www.turfparadise.com.
 
“There’s a lot to do in a short time,” said Francia. “But we’ll be ready.”
 

​Race Days Change to Monday thru Friday
 
An estimated $4 million in purse money will be available when Turf Paradise opens its 84-day live meet, running from January 4 thru May 1, 2021.
 
Racing will be conducted on a 5-day a week basis, Monday thru Friday (a change from the original schedule of Saturday thru Wednesday). Kentucky Derby Day Saturday, May 1, will be the lone exception.
 
“Our numbers revealed a simple truth: we handle more on the weekdays than on the weekends, especially wagering coming from our out of state markets,” said track general manager Vincent Francia. “Better handle equals more purse money for the horsemen.”
 
The Phoenix-based track has been dark since having to curtail its live meet in progress on March 14 due to the Coronavirus. But simulcasting at the track and at Turf’s OTB system continued, accruing $2.1 million from March 14 to September 3. An additional $1.9 million is projected to be generated from then until Dec. 31, for a total of $4 million.
 
The $4 million serves as seed money to start the meet. In addition nearly $50,000 is generated daily for purses for each of the 84 live race days.
 
“The whole purpose of the January to May meet is to get money to the horsemen, to help them get back on their feet after the March cancellation,” said Francia. “Fans are welcome in limited number because of the Coronavirus. But the meet is really for the horsemen.”
 
The first floor of the Grandstand and outside on the track apron will be open for wagering. The Clubhouse and Turf Club will be closed.
 
Daily purses will range from $80,000 to $100,000.
 
“Because of the increased purse money we’re expecting to have plenty of horses,” said racing secretary Robbie Junk. “Bottom maiden claimers will race for $8,000 as compared to $6,300. Open allowance will be up to $23,500 from $19,000. And bottom $3,000 claimers will be racing from $9,000 instead of $7,000. “
 
Details are still being worked out with the Arizona Thoroughbred Breeders for their purses.
 
“What we know so far with the breed races is that they will be 5 to 10% higher than the open races,” said Junk. “I’m still working through the details with Marv Fleming (President, Az Thoroughbred Breeders).”   
 

Turf Paradise and the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) have agreed to resume live racing at the Phoenix-based oval with an 84-day meeting running from January 2 thru May 1, 2021.
 
The meet would run on a five-day a week schedule, Saturday thru Wednesday. Horsemen can arrive Nov. 19 for stall preparations and then bring horses into the stable area Nov. 25. Training would begin Dec. 2.
 
Following months of negotiations between the AZHBPA and Turf management following a March 14 cancellation of the live meet in progress due to the Coronavirus, the two sides were able to craft a 26-point agreement. The forum for on-going discussions between the two sides was provided by Rudy Casillas, the Director for the Division of Racing, the state’s regulatory body for the sport.
 
In a letter penned by Casillas and addressed to Bob Hutton, President of the AZHBPA and Jerry Simms, the owner of Turf Paradise, he said, “Many thanks to both of you for finally reaching terms to allow for the racing industry to move forward. The Licensees and horseracing patrons will be pleased.”
 
“The AZHBPA is all about live racing,” said Hutton. “The AZHBPA is enthusiastic to help provide the opportunity for horsemen to race close to home and be with their families. Racing close to home will help eliminate unnecessary travel expenses and financial anxiety for our members.”
 
“We’re happy for our horsemen that they’re going to be racing,” said Simms. “Unfortunately we still have to deal with Covid-19, and we will. We thank Rudy Casillas for bringing us together and getting this done.”