Dear Horsemen:
Turf Paradise has submitted live race dates for an 84-day winter meet – January 2 thru May 1, 2021 – to the Racing Commission for their approval at the October 8 meeting. We know this is welcome news to the horsemen. Turf Paradise is prepared and willing to do this for the horsemen and Arizona racing. But there are two conditions that must be met in order for us to host this meet.
First, the $2.1 million that the AZHBPA transferred out of the Turf Paradise Horsemen’s account into an AZHBPA account, must be returned to the horsemen’s purse account at Turf. AZHBPA leadership is on public record as saying whoever is running live, gets the money. Keep in mind that $2.1 million does not belong to the AZHBPA or to Turf Paradise. That money belongs to the horsemen who would run live at Turf Paradise.
With the $2.1 million back in the account and the projected $1 million generated in current purse accumulation between now and December 31 plus the purse monies that will be generated during the proposed live race meet, Turf will be able to offer the horsemen a 25% purse increase (from $80,000 to $100,00 daily) for this proposed meet. Surely the AZHBPA would not object to that?
The second condition is, the AZHBPA approvals for simulcasting, both export (Turf’s signal being sent to other race tracks for wagering) and import (Turf bringing in other race track signals for wagering), must be approved through May 31, 2021. Those approvals are essential in order to continue generating money into the purse account, and we simply cannot conduct a live race meet with the AZHBPA constantly threatening to withdraw those approvals.
Turf does not feel these two conditions are unreasonable. What is reasonable is, offering the Arizona horsemen a live race meet.
Keep in mind that for a live race meet to be conducted, Turf will have to take certain action and follow protocols dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic.
Turf has been advised by ADOR Racing Director Rudy Casillas that Mr. Hutton has told him that the AZHBPA is willing to make only weekly payments. Turf horsemen conduct business daily with the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper. As an example, if a horseman wants to withdraw money from his/her account under Mr. Hutton’s plan, they would have to wait a week until the funds are deposited.
Turf has been conducting horsemen’s business for 65 years thru a direct relationship between horsemen and the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper. Now all of a sudden the AZHBPA, without Turf’s knowledge, put the money in another account and wants to pay it out only weekly.
So, horsemen, tell the AZHBPA to put the money back into the Turf Paradise horsemen’s account and to sign the simulcast agreements until May 31, 2021. Email us simultaneously so we know what you’re thinking at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] if you want to race live at Turf from January 2 to May 1.
Sincerely,
Vincent Francia
General Manager
Turf Paradise has submitted live race dates for an 84-day winter meet – January 2 thru May 1, 2021 – to the Racing Commission for their approval at the October 8 meeting. We know this is welcome news to the horsemen. Turf Paradise is prepared and willing to do this for the horsemen and Arizona racing. But there are two conditions that must be met in order for us to host this meet.
First, the $2.1 million that the AZHBPA transferred out of the Turf Paradise Horsemen’s account into an AZHBPA account, must be returned to the horsemen’s purse account at Turf. AZHBPA leadership is on public record as saying whoever is running live, gets the money. Keep in mind that $2.1 million does not belong to the AZHBPA or to Turf Paradise. That money belongs to the horsemen who would run live at Turf Paradise.
With the $2.1 million back in the account and the projected $1 million generated in current purse accumulation between now and December 31 plus the purse monies that will be generated during the proposed live race meet, Turf will be able to offer the horsemen a 25% purse increase (from $80,000 to $100,00 daily) for this proposed meet. Surely the AZHBPA would not object to that?
The second condition is, the AZHBPA approvals for simulcasting, both export (Turf’s signal being sent to other race tracks for wagering) and import (Turf bringing in other race track signals for wagering), must be approved through May 31, 2021. Those approvals are essential in order to continue generating money into the purse account, and we simply cannot conduct a live race meet with the AZHBPA constantly threatening to withdraw those approvals.
Turf does not feel these two conditions are unreasonable. What is reasonable is, offering the Arizona horsemen a live race meet.
Keep in mind that for a live race meet to be conducted, Turf will have to take certain action and follow protocols dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic.
Turf has been advised by ADOR Racing Director Rudy Casillas that Mr. Hutton has told him that the AZHBPA is willing to make only weekly payments. Turf horsemen conduct business daily with the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper. As an example, if a horseman wants to withdraw money from his/her account under Mr. Hutton’s plan, they would have to wait a week until the funds are deposited.
Turf has been conducting horsemen’s business for 65 years thru a direct relationship between horsemen and the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper. Now all of a sudden the AZHBPA, without Turf’s knowledge, put the money in another account and wants to pay it out only weekly.
So, horsemen, tell the AZHBPA to put the money back into the Turf Paradise horsemen’s account and to sign the simulcast agreements until May 31, 2021. Email us simultaneously so we know what you’re thinking at [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] if you want to race live at Turf from January 2 to May 1.
Sincerely,
Vincent Francia
General Manager
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