Arizona Downs to resume meet with 'year-round circuit' the goal

Arizona Downs' live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing will resume on July 20 and continue every weekend through Labor Day, the track announced Monday, after the owners have secured an investor who will provide additional financing to the Prescott Valley operation.

Post time will be 1 p.m. MT, and tickets are available for purchase at ArizonaDowns.com. 

“The investment group loves horse racing, and understands how important a year-round circuit is for the industry,” said Arizona Downs owner and partner Tom Auther. “They will be incredible business partners.” 

The new financing enables Arizona Downs to fund purses distributed to horsemen for the remainder of the 2019 summer meet, and frees up capital to expand its Off Track Betting network to fund purses for the 2020 summer racing season. Arizona Downs’ owners are proactively seeking new restaurants and bars to add to their OTB system, which currently consists of six partners.

RELATED: Arizona Downs previously suspends racing

Since its Memorial Day Weekend grand opening, Arizona Downs has attracted more than 12,500 fans to its weekend live racing events, including thousands of individuals who have never experienced horse racing before.

“We’re thankful to have a new investor who shares our confidence about the potential of year-round horse racing,” said Auther. “We’re already having conversations with several potential OTB partners.”