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In turf routes, this reduced to around 14% suggesting that horses with late pace are better equipped to win these longer events.
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But unlike some of the New York and Florida tracks, these stats aren’t overwhelming.Ĥ6% of winners between October 2018 and February 2019 in 5-5.5 furlong events won wire-to-wire suggesting that early pace is absolutely vital at Turf Paradise over the shorter distances. Generally, the outside posts are seen as more profitable over the shorter trips, while horses traveling beyond the mile, particularly on the turf course, are better suited to being drawn on the inside. However, the stats from 2018 suggest that favorites win around 38% of time, particularly in 5K Claimers.Ī recent meeting in February saw 77% of the favorites finishing in the money, but small fields can often be the cause of this. Some US tracks have a significant bias, but Turf Paradise doesn’t appear to have an overwhelming pattern. Turf Paradise Configuration and Track Bias Simms also purchased the land adjacent to the track four years later, helping him improve access to the venue. Improved facilities in the stables were also at the top of Simms’ list of priorities, and this was completed shortly afterward. The main track and turf course were both later completely ripped up and renovated over the next couple of years, making the old-style venue almost completely unrecognizable. The Turf Club was completely renovated during his tenure. It wasn’t long until the track was purchased once again with self-made millionaire Jerry Simms paying $53million in 2000. Spectator numbers continued to rise, and interest in horse racing in the US was significant. Ownership changed hands once again in 1994, with Hollywood Park Racetrack taking charge of Turf Paradise, and it flourished under their tutelage for a number of years. Off-track betting was legalized in Arizona in 1989, and this gave Turf Paradise a new lease of life. The clubhouse was also given a refurbishment.
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A seven-furlong turf course was added with a one mile and one-eighth chute, while a patio area was also added. The track didn’t undergo any renovations for the first 24 years, but in 1980, following the takeover of Herb Owens, work was carried out for the first time. Businessman Walter Cluer purchased 1,400 acres of land in 1954, and began building Phoenix’s first racetrack.ĭespite a lot of initial skepticism, Cluer completed the project and even though it experienced some initial issues with accessible roads nearby, the track opened on January 7 th, 1956. Turf Paradise HistoryĬompared to some of the other racetracks in the US, Turf Paradise is relatively new, first opening its doors in 1956. With affordable admission prices of around $3 per person, the track has always been extremely popular with visitors. This is often one of their most popular race-days with around 7,000 spectators descending upon the Arizona venue each year. The Bienvenidos Stakes is another hugely popular event as this stakes event is held on the opening day of the season. It is held on the dirt over a mile and a sixteenth. A prize purse of $100,000 is offered to the winner, and it is one of many races which are classified as official prep races for the Kentucky Derby. The Turf Paradise Derby is the most lucrative race held at the track, and it tends to take place in mid-February. Over 2,000 horses can be housed at the track at any given time.Īlthough the track doesn’t hold an overwhelming number of stakes and graded contests, there is always a decent level of competition in Arizona, and Turf Paradise tends to attract decently sized fields, particularly for weekend meets.
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Over the course of the winter months, over 120 race-days are held at the track. During the off-season, the venue occasionally stages competitive motorcycling events, with the Arizona Mile often held here. The Turf Paradise racing season tends to begin in mid-October, with meets typically held Saturday-Tuesday. The other two venues in the southwestern state are Rilito and Arizona Downs, and horses regularly move between these tracks. It is situated in the Deer Valley section of Phoenix and is one of three race tracks located in Arizona. It is one of a number of tracks that also regularly hosts quarter horse racing. Turf Paradise has been at the heart of racing in Arizona for over six decades, and it has been hosting thoroughbred racing since 1956.