If commission says yes, Turf Paradise will race in January
The Turf Paradise question appears to be all but settled, at least for now, and the Arizona track said racing will resume in January.
Turf Paradise posted an item on X from the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association that said race dates were set from Jan. 29 through May 4, assuming approval by the Arizona Racing Commission. It said horsemen can arrive at their stalls on Dec. 18 and that the track will open for training on Dec. 26.
The racing commission has a meeting scheduled for Dec. 14, but Arizona HBPA president Lloyd Yother told Horse Racing Nation on Thursday that his organization is requesting a special session before then to approve the race dates.
A group led by Richard Moore and Frank Nickens agreed to buy the track in September. after owner Jerry Simms said he would close the facility after a previous deal with a California real estate company collapsed. Nickens told Daily Racing Form that they plan to spend $50 million on improvements to the track and the backside.
That sale has not been completed, so it will be Simms requesting the race dates, Lloyd said. The HBPA hopes the commission will impose incentives for Simms to complete the meet he said.
The reopening was welcome news for Justin Evans, leading trainer at Turf Paradise for the last three meets. Since racing at Turf Paradise ended in May, Evans trained at Emerald Downs and, since October, Delta Downs in Louisiana.
“It's exciting for us because, of course, that's home for us, right?” Evans told HRN. “We've been excited to travel out here and try Delta and some new things, and Louisiana has been really good to us. We plan to keep a stable going out here because we really like it.”
He expects to have about 35 horses at Turf Paradise and 20 to 25 in Louisiana.
Beyond his situation, he said, “it's great for the horsemen, you know, they're struggling, they're all misplaced and stuff. But to finally get it to come back together, it’s just great for everybody.”
Still, Evans’s optimism is tempered. “It's been a hard transition for everybody. But thank God it looks like it's finally all coming back together. And hopefully they can find some stability so we don't go through this sort of thing every year.”