At a meeting of the Arizona Racing Commission Dec. 11, Turf Paradise was granted a second 45-day conditional permit as they continue to perform repairs to the facility.
On July 11, the Phoenix track was granted a three-year conditional commercial and teletrack permit that would last until July 11, 2027. Conditions included an annual review of financials by the Arizona Department of Gaming, final receipt and disposition of the financial report, and completion of the submitted repair list based on the Turf Paradise Track Safety and Grounds Inspection Report.
During the week of Oct. 21, the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and ADG staff inspected progress made to the overall track condition and recommended a delay to the Nov. 2 start of the meet. The ARC granted the first 45-day conditional permit Oct. 28 and the meet eventually started Nov. 11 at the ARC's approval.
Live Racing Could Return to Turf Paradise Nov. 11
The conditional permit was set to expire Dec. 12 but commissioners heard enough progress Wednesday to unanimously grant a second 45-day conditional license that will expire Jan. 26. Turf Paradise is scheduled to race through May 3. The license will be addressed again at a Jan. 10 meeting.
ADG racing enforcement and operations manager Brian Duncan reported that many of the required repairs were completed, including the addition of new tractors and harrows and the installation of an additional 12,000-gallon tank to help fill water trucks. Those water trucks, however, were the biggest point of concern about the track's current safety levels.
"The big problem is all four of them basically have been under repair," Duncan said. "The water trucks still leak and produce inconsistent water output."
Duncan referenced how each water truck has different-sized pipes that rely upon the RPMs of the vehicle, not a separate motor like a pony motor.
"They're inconsistent," Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Lloyd Yother said about the trucks. "The track is wet on the inside, dry on the middle, even on the outside, or vice versa depending on which truck goes down which lane. It's causing some issues with the horses during racing and training."
Jerry Simms, owner and chairman of Turf Paradise, assured the ARC that leasing or renting three new water trucks is the highest priority.
"I don't have anything else in my life that is a higher priority right now for me than getting those water trucks," Simms said.
According to Simms, they have already located one truck locally and one in Texas. Once the trucks are secured, Simms said it will take a few days to attach the water-spraying arms from the old trucks. Despite those arms still containing different-sized pipes, Simms said the new trucks will be capable of hydraulic proportional water disbursement to create an even track.
Pressed by commissioner James Padish for a timeframe, Simms said he was hopeful to have three new trucks operating within three to four weeks.
Other issues reported by Duncan that still need to be fixed include creating maintenance logs for areas like the receiving barn, better signage and management for licensed individuals in the paddock and barn areas, backstretch speakers, and sewage issues with backstretch restrooms.
Asked by chairwoman Kandace French Contreras whether he thought Turf Paradise had enough staff to facilitate these changes, Duncan said "a few more people would be nice to have."
The annual financial report needed for the condition, which is being performed by Keegan Linscott and Associates director of consulting services Sean Tanner, has yet to be completed and is currently in draft form, according to ADG agency director and racing division director Jackie Johnson.
"The financial report has not been finalized, therefore the department has not rendered its final recommendation to the commission for the approval, denial, or other disposition of the conditional permit at this point," Johnson said.
Johnson said they currently have no time frame for when the report would be complete as they are relying on additional resources. Asked by vice chairwoman Tracy Olson what the minimum timeline could be, Johnson stated that she could hopefully provide a better timeline of when they would wrap up the report within the "next month or two."
Johnson shared a quote from Tanner with the commission about the current race meet, "'It does appear that the business will be able to carry out those races without a problem.' The department continues to believe that Turf Paradise can proceed with this season's race meet while the due diligence for the financial report continues to be conducted, unless or until there is concern about the status of the permit terms."
