Today (Tuesday) the Arizona Racing Commission approved by a unanimous 4-0 vote, Turf Paradise’s request for a race meet in 2024. The track announced that it will host a 57-day live meet, running from January 29 through May 4.
 
“I decided to postpone my retirement because of the many stake holders here in Arizona that want racing to continue,” said track owner Jerry Simms.
 
A signed contract between Turf and the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (AzHBPA), listed a 4-day a week live schedule, Monday through Thursday. Horses will be allowed into the stable area December 18 with training beginning December 26.

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Don’t wait to get your tickets to the biggest and best Kentucky Derby party in Arizona at Turf Paradise Saturday May 6th.
 
Tickets are still available for our Clubhouse Buffet. Which includes a continental breakfast, Italian buffet, Texas barbecue and a desert bar. Tickets are still available for $70 a person. To purchase Clubhouse tickets call 602-375-6470.
 
Tickets are also available for the trackside beer garden sponsored by Michelob Ultra. The beer garden includes a buffet with brats, sausages, hotdogs, brisket sliders, beer specials, a full-service cash bar, and live music from the Aaron Nelson Project. Tickets are $45 per person presale and $55 per person at the door.
​To order tickets call 602-375-6478.
 
General admission is available day of for just $5.
Watch Wager and win on live local horse racing and the Kentucky derby simulcast Saturday May 6th at Turf Paradise. 19th Ave and Bell

Turf Paradise, Arizona’s first sports franchise, is bringing back its Kentucky Derby Party Saturday May 6th. In addition to live local horse racing, fans can also bet on the Kentucky Derby simulcast. The day also features live music and a family fun park. General admission is just $3.

For those looking for an enhanced experience there are a number of options which go on sale starting 8am April 2nd.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “Whether you want to cheer your horse to victory from the rooftop of the Director’s Suite while sipping a mint julep or from the rail while clutching a cold beer we have Kentucky Derby options for everyone.



Trackside Beer Garden
This trackside Kentucky Derby party is sponsored by Michelob Ultra. The beer garden includes a beer garden buffet, beer specials, a full-service cash bar, and live music from the Aaron Nelson Project. Tickets are $45 per person presale and $55 per person at the door. To order tickets call 602-375-6478 starting April 2nd at 8am.

Clubhouse
Take in a day at the races from the air-conditioned comfort of the Clubhouse while enjoying an Italian buffet and dessert bar.  Place your bets at the numerous tellers inside the Clubhouse.
There is also a full-service cash bar serving beer, cocktails, and Mint Juleps. Tickets for the Clubhouse are $280 for a table of four or $140 for a hi-top table for two. Limited single seats are available for $70.
To purchase Clubhouse tickets call 602-375-6470 starting 8am April 2nd.

Derby DayClub
This Kentucky Derby party offers luxury tent seating trackside as well as tables at the pavilion and is produced by the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships. Individual tickets are also available. Ticketing for this event is separate from the other Turf Paradise Kentucky Derby offerings. Follow the link for more information.

Gates open 7am on Kentucky Derby Day. the first post time at Turf Paradise is 11:30am. The Kentucky Derby usually starts just after 4pm Arizona time but the official post time has yet to be set. Fans who can’t make it to Turf Paradise can watch and wager on the Kentucky Derby at our more than 40 OTB partners. Click here to find one near you.

Turf Paradise at 19th Ave and Bell opened its doors in 1956 and is Arizona’s first sports franchise. It is home to Unibet Sports Book and operates more than 40 Off Track Betting locations in Arizona.

​Turf Paradise, Arizona’s first sports franchise, is helping Arizona families deal with inflation by offering affordable family fun as it hosts Super Saturday March 11th
That’s why Turf Paradise and the Arizona Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association are bringing back wallet day after more than decade. Turf Paradise is also holding five stakes races that day along with a full card of live local horse racing.
On March 11th the Phoenix racetrack and the HBPA will be giving away free wallets to the first 4,000 paid admissions. And each wallet will have betting vouchers valued between $2 and $500.
 
The day also includes a full card of live local horseracing including:
The $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup
The $75,000 Arizona Oaks
The $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby
The $100,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile
The $60,000 Queen Of The Green Stakes
There’s also live music and a family fun park with bounce house inflatables. Turf Paradise is committed to offering affordable family fun to the community it has served for more than six decades. General admission is just $3 and general parking is free. Gates open at 11am.
Turf Paradise has continually operated at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell since 1956. In addition to live local horseracing Turf Paradise is also home to Unibet Sports Book allowing fans to bet on their favorite sports teams.
“Free wallets are a fan favorite and bringing them back when we are having five signature stakes races helps bring the day from good to great,” said Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia.”
Media seeking interviews with jockeys, trainers, and longtime employees can contact Mike Scerbo at [email protected] or 602 615 6523.
Turf Paradise at 19th Ave and Bell opened its doors in 1956 and is Arizona’s first sports franchise. It is home to Unibet Sports Book and operates more than 40 Off Track Betting locations in Arizona. 

Two one-hundred grand stakes, the Phoenix Gold Cup and the Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile, top a five Stakes Super Saturday March 11 at Turf Paradise.
 
The Phoenix Gold Cup at six furlongs and the Cotton Fitzsimmons at one mile on the turf, will be complemented by the $60,000 Queen of the Green and two seventy-five grand stakes for three-year-olds, the Arizona Oaks at one mile and the Turf Paradise Derby at 1 1/16 miles.
 
These stakes have a history of being a square off between locally based horses and California shippers. This year’s edition is no exception. A look at the local versus shipper standouts in each of the five stakes.
 
4th Race: $60,000 Queen of the Green, Fillies & Mares, 4-year-olds & Up, 1 1/16 mile (turf), 8 entered.
FAIRY TALE BLISS – In the barn of local trainer Dan McFarlane, this Cal-based 7-year-old mare is 10 of 20 lifetime grass efforts.
ICE QUEEN – This Cal shipper has been racing at Santa Anita, finding moderate success among low level turf claimers.
YANKEE DOLLAR – Locally based 4-year-old folly is lightly raced but improving with each start. The front-running daughter of California Chrome will have leading rider Harry Hernandez aboard.
 
5th Race: $75,000 Arizona Oaks, Fillies, 3-year-olds, 1 mile, 8 entered.
FAYETTE FOX – Recently claimed for $62,500 out of her maiden win at Santa Anita by Vladimir Cerin, who won this race in 2008, the daughter of Sharp Azteca is looking to capitalize on immediate black type if she can win the Oaks.
BEYOND AWESOME – A confirmed front-runner for leading trainer Justin Evans, this sophomore already has two stakes wins to her credit and won five of eight races overall.
 
6th Race: $75,000 Turf Paradise Derby, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles, 12 entered.
THIRSTY JOHN – Winner of the Cal Cup Derby, it is this colt’s race to lose for trainer Peter Miller. Only entrant sporting a win at the distance.
​TIZ TOCK – Fellow west coast shipper, claimed from his maiden win by John Sadler.
ARIZONA ANDREW – A winner of 5 of 7 starts, including three stakes, for local trainer Kevin Eikleberry
 
7th Race: $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup, 4-year-olds & Up, 6 furlongs, 12 entered.
HOWBEIT – Brings a Grade 2 win at Santa Anita to this deep field of sprinters. One of two nominated by trainer Mark Glatt. The other being ESCAPE ROUTE.
MINISTER OF SOUL – One of two locally based horses that have won the Gold Cup (2019) along with TIGER DAD (2022). While MINISTER OF SOUL will be battle up front TIGER DAD will make an off the pace late rush.
 
8th Race: $100,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile, 3-year-olds and up, 8 furlongs (turf), 12 entered
SMOOTH LIKE STRAIT - Grade 1 winner and multiple graded runner-ups, including
a close finish for the win in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Mile, this Michael McCarthy front-runner is the one to beat. If there’s a chink in this $1.8 million earner’s armor, it’s his last three graded starts show signs he may be tailing off, although his recent works indicate he just needed a breather.

As the Valley gets ready to welcome another NFL Championship game, Arizona’s first sports franchise, Turf Paradise, is thanking its local fans with live local horseracing, free T-Shirts, live music, an opportunity to meet the jockeys.

Decades before the Cardinals scored their first touchdown in Arizona, years before the Phoenix Suns sunk their first basket, and long before the Mercury, or Coyotes decided to set up shop in Arizona, there was Turf Paradise, Arizona’s first sports franchise.

On February 11th  Turf Paradise celebrates 67 years in Phoenix with a giant party that includes free T-Shirts for the first 3,000 paid admissions and a full card of live local horseracing including the $60,000 Turf Paradise Turf Stakes and the $60,000 Molly P. Stakes.

There’s also live music and a family fun park with bounce house inflatables. Turf Paradise is committed to offering affordable family fun to the community it has served for more than six decades. General admission is just $3 and general parking is free. The day also features$3 hotdogs and $5 Michelob Ultras.
Gates open at 11am.

Turf Paradise has continually operated at the same location at 19th Ave and Bell since 1956. When it first opened, there were no paved roads in the area and few if any homes. Today an entire city has grown up around this iconic racetrack.
In addition to live local horseracing Turf Paradise is also home to Unibet Sports Book allowing fans to bet on their favorite sports teams.

“Whether you are a casual fan, an expert handicapper, or simply looking for a great way to spend the day with your family Turf Paradise is a sure thing when it comes to affordable family fun,” said Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia.”
Media seeking interviews with jockeys, trainers, and longtime employees can contact Mike Scerbo at [email protected] or 602 615 6523.

Turf Paradise at 19th Ave and Bell opened its doors in 1956 and is Arizona’s First Sports franchise. It is home to Unibet Sports Book and operates more than 40 Off Track Betting locations in Arizona.

After an especially wet winter forced Turf Paradise to cancel numerous races, the Phoenix racetrack took the bold step of renovating its racing surface.

The renovation was overseen by Turf Paradise Track Consultant Steve Wood, one of the most renowned racetrack experts in the country. Mr. Wood is a former track superintendent for Oak Tree, Del Mar, and Santa Anita race meets.
In order to give the racing surface a fresh start, 19,000 tons of existing dirt and sand was removed from the main track. Crews also lowered the drain inside the rail by 8 inches to ensure proper drainage.

Crews then added 12 hundred tons of quality sand and 450 yards of organics. Wood used the highest-grade sand (#10 Mesh) available with the smallest grain diameter. The track was surveyed with a sonar grader and rechecked with a handheld laser. While the materials are new and high quality, Wood said the overall composition should be familiar enough to the horses accustomed to racing at Turf Paradise.

Wood notes that the surface was surveyed within a third of an inch, “And is as perfect as we can get it.” Crews also surveyed both chutes and added sand to them as well.

The training track was rebuilt with the materials removed from the main track and that track has been surveyed as well. The sand was also repurposed to improve the bridle paths on the backside.

Turf Paradise General Manager Vince Francia said, “Maintaining the best and safest racing surface for our horses and jockeys is the priority.”
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So as to prevent any major disruptions to the racing schedule, the track renovations were completed in three and a half days. And to ensure continued track quality, grade markers have been posted every 8th of a mile.
Click here to see a short video on some of the renovation efforts.
 
Turf Paradise at 19th Ave and Bell opened its doors in 1956 and is Arizona’s First Sports franchise. It is home to Unibet Sports Book and operates more than 40 Off Track Betting locations in Arizona.

The horses are back, and the family fun returns to Turf Paradise Thanksgiving weekend, featuring live local horseracing, Unibet sports betting, and free T-shirts.
On Friday Turf Paradise will be selling $2 hotdogs and $2 Popcorn. DJ Mr. P-Body will be playing music at the track apron. General admission Friday is $3.
On Saturday, Turf Paradise is giving away T-shirts to the first 2000 paid admissions. The day also includes live music from the Aaron Nelson Project and a family fun park with bounce house inflatables. General admission Saturday is also just $3. Gates open at 11am for paid admissions.
First post time for both days is 12:40pm.
The weekend also features heart-stopping horseracing including:

• Friday-The $25,000 Classy Sheikh. Three Year Olds and Upward.870 Yards.
• Saturday-The $60,000 Guaranteed Glendale Stakes. Fillies And Mares Three Year Olds and Upward. One Mile And One Sixteenth(Turf).
• Saturday-The$60,000 Guaranteed Walter R. Cluer Memorial Stakes. Three Year Olds and Upward. Seven And One Half Furlongs(Turf).

Turf’s Thanksgiving celebration began decades ago as the place to go for affordable family fun.
General Manager Vince Francia said, “As the economy impacts Arizona, Turf Paradise is proud to offer an affordable way to entertain families and fans as we have been doing since 1956.”
Turf Paradise, located at 19th Ave and Bell Road, first opened its doors in 1956. It has maintained Arizona’s horse racing tradition for more than six decades and is Arizona’s FIRST sports franchise.