We appreciate your patience as we have been telling you about HB2547. But more needs to be done to keep Turf Paradise from closing its doors. Unfortunately the Arizona Legislature has approved this unconstitutional, special interest legislation that imposes new mandates and regulation this Governor has typically rejected. They did so because of the parochial interests of a few powerful politicians.
But your voice can and should matter just as much. It can save Turf Paradise. Please email Governor Ducey at [email protected] and ask him to veto HB2547.
This bill forces businesses such as OTB signal providers to do business in Arizona with people it may not wish to. Just imagine if the government told you who you could sell your house to. Understandably, these businesses have said they would leave Arizona if this outrageous bill passes. The legislation is unprecedented in the country and would make Arizona a greater red tape state. If signals for tracks in California, Florida and elsewhere no longer come to Turf Paradise approximately 42% of our business goes away, meaning we go away.
Let’s be clear. We welcome reopened tracks like Arizona Downs back. And wish them well despite some very unkind things they have been saying about Turf Paradise. However If Arizona Downs cannot reach basic business agreements with out of state signal providers and then gets legislation to harm Turf Paradise and other Arizona tracks we must take a stand. We hope the parties get their differences settled. But draconian legislation in the meantime solves nothing and means 7 months of racing at Turf Paradise goes away for the sake of a small number of race days to the north with an ownership group that has closed racing operations in other parts of the country.
Please email Governor Ducey and tell him not to gamble with the future of horse racing in Arizona. You can do so at [email protected]. Ask him to veto HB2547.
Year round racing in Arizona would be a good thing. But this bill would do the opposite.
Horseracing is struggling nationally. Thanks to fans like you it is holding its own in Arizona. Turf Paradise is defying the odds. But it can’t defy the odds anymore if HB 2547 becomes law.
Thank you for all you do and thanks for taking a moment to email Governor Ducey and ask him to continue to oppose new mandates and regulation as he has repeatedly done since being Governor.