The Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association announced Sept. 27 it has extended Turf Paradise’s contract to simulcast races for wagering until Nov. 12. The extension avoids a shutdown of the track’s 37 off-track betting sites.
According to the AZHBP, a new live horse racing meet is scheduled to start in early January.
“Details of that live meet are being worked out. Additional information will be forthcoming,” said the AZHBPA in its announcement.
Track owner Jerry Sims had announced Sept. 18 he was retiring to spend more time with his family and closing the Phoenix racetrack. Without live or simulcast racing, the off-track betting sites maintained by Turf Paradise were also expected to close effective Oct. 1. Those OTB locations televise the live racing from Turf Paradise as well as simulcasts from other tracks across the United States. But without live racing and the contract with the AZHBPA set to expire Sept. 30, the OTBs had to close.
In August, the track announced it would not open for the traditional start of its meet in November but that there was a possibility the track could race early next year.
Perez: Turf Paradise to Cease Operations Oct. 1; OTBs to Close
Turf Paradise, located at 19th Avenue and Bell Road, first opened its doors in 1956. It has maintained Arizona’s horse racing tradition for more than six decades and is Arizona’s first sports franchise.
This story will be updated.
