Racing Commission Approves Turf Paradise Race Dates

The Arizona Racing Commission, during the Dec. 5 session, approved by a unanimous 4-0 vote a conditional opening of Turf Paradise's request for a race meet in 2024.The track announced it will hold a 57-day live meet, running from Jan. 29 through May 4. The conditional provision involves the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) being able to expedite the track's inspection and accreditation to ensure compliance with HISA's Racetrack Safety rules. If that inspection and accreditation is not completed before Jan. 29, it could potentially delay the opening. "I decided to postpone my retirement because of the many stakeholders here in Arizona that want racing to continue," said track owner Jerry Simms. Simms, who has owned Turf Paradise since 2000, reiterated during the Dec. 5 session that if the sale of the property were to be finalized before the May 4 closing day—although very unlikely—racing would continue uninterrupted until May 4. Simms also added that any current sale-related surveying being done on the property would not interfere with training or future live racing. According to Turf Paradise on the X social media platform, a signed contract between the track and the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent Association (HBPA) listed a four-day-a-week live schedule, Monday through Thursday. Horses will be allowed into the stable area Dec. 18, with training beginning Dec. 26.