Please Email Arizona House Speaker Russell Bowers at [email protected] and tell him to VOTE NO on HB2547. Email Governor Doug Ducey at [email protected] and let him know you support Turf Paradise and oppose HB2547.
This special interest legislation would force Monarch racetracks to leave Arizona OTB’s and racetracks. That means no simulcasts from Santa Anita Park, Del Mar, Gulfstream Park, Pimlico, Laurel Park, Golden Gate Fields, Los Alamitos (TB), Meadowlands, or Monmouth Park to Arizona OTB's and Arizona tracks including Turf Paradise.
The legislation tells the signal provider of those tracks (Monarch) who it must do business with in Arizona. In other words it so intrudes on their private business in a way no other state has ever done making it too onerous to operate here, with terrible consequences for the existing tracks in Arizona, including Rillito in Tucson.
The legislation was originally designed to assist Rillito but IT WAS AMENDED with draconian provisions to force Monarch to provide signals to Arizona Downs OTB’s. That is something Monarch has refused to do because of past conflicts with the owners of Arizona Downs.
Turf Paradise has NOTHING TO DO with this dispute. But the Phoenix track, and the entire horseracing industry in Arizona is being held hostage thanks to this harmful legislation.
Monarch has said it would leave Arizona if this bill passes. And it has the resources and the will to do so. This would not only devastate Turf Paradise but the entire horse racing industry in Arizona. Nobody in Arizona wins if this bill passes. Not the fans. Not the horsemen. Not Rillito. Not Turf Paradise. Not even Arizona Downs.
Email Arizona House Speaker Russell Bowers at [email protected] and tell him to VOTE NO on HB2547. Email Governor Doug Ducey at [email protected] and let him know you support Turf Paradise and oppose HB2547.