Turf Paradise is a thoroughbred and quarter horse racetrack in the North Mountain section of Phoenix

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...

, Arizona

Arizona

Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

History

In 1954 businessman Walter Cluer, a successful millwork founder and manufacturer from Phoenix, purchased 1400 acres (5.7 km²) of barren desert at what is now Bell Road and 19th Avenue. Cluer, who was also a horse owner, dreamt of building a first-class race track in Phoenix.

Many locals thought Cluer's ambitious project was ill-timed and destined to fail, given that the property was 25 miles (40.2 km) from the hustle and bustle of the burgeoning metropolis of downtown Phoenix, and that the only way to get there was via a few badly maintained dirt roads, but he forged ahead and on January 7, 1956, Turf Paradise opened its doors to great success. Cluer remained as head of the track for nearly 25 years.

In 1980, Herb Owens took over and Turf Paradise entered into a phase of renovation. A seven-furlong infield turf course with a one mile (1.6 km) and one-eighth chute was added. The Clubhouse was enlarged and a Turf Club with penthouse-style Directors’ Suite and outdoor patio was also added.

Turf Paradise’s third owner, Robert Walker of Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2010 the population of the city was 217,385...

 had made a fortune with an aerospace company he had founded and sold. He purchased the track in 1989 and moved it into the gambling

Gambling

Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...

 field of off-track betting

Off-track betting

Off-track betting refers to sanctioned gambling on horse racing outside a race track.-US history:...

. Walker’s formula seemed to be the right approach at the right time, as he retired the track’s outstanding debt and declared the first-ever dividend for Turf Paradise stockholders. In addition, Walker and a consortium of horse racing interests successfully lobbied the Arizona Legislature

Arizona Legislature

The Arizona Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Arizona. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Senate. There are 60 Representatives and 30 Senators...

 to legalize off track betting (OTB). The in-state OTB network is perhaps Walker’s most significant contribution to the track and Arizona’s racing industry. What started out as a single OTB site in little Cave Creek

Cave Creek, Arizona

Cave Creek is a town in Maricopa County, Arizona in the United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 4,951.-Geography:...

 (pop. 4,000) in 1991, has now grown to over 45 in-state OTBs and over 900 out-of-state locales, located in six different countries.

Turf Paradise took on a corporate face in 1994 when the track was purchased in a stock acquisition by California-based Hollywood Park Racetrack under the chairmanship of R.D. Hubbard. Despite intense competition from a number of Native American in-state casino gaming interests, Turf Paradise continued to flourish and achieve record mutual handle numbers.

The new millennium provided Turf Paradise with a new owner in the person of Jerry Simms. The self-made multi-millionaire purchased Turf Paradise on June 16, 2000 for $53 million. Simms immediately set out a $5 million renovation plan. Both the Clubhouse and Turf Club were completely renovated and re-styled. Two race book-style betting carrels, of 80 private terminals each, were added, one in the Clubhouse and the other adjacent to the Turf Club.

Simms also had the main track and turf course renovated, and in the summer of 2003, Simms built a $125,000 equine swimming pool in the stable area of the race track. The 30 feet (9.1 m) by 60 feet (18.3 m) pool provides advanced horse therapy for more than 2,200 thoroughbreds stabled on the backside. Containing over 140,000 gallons of water and measuring 12 feet (3.7 m) in depth, the pool accommodates up to six horses at a time. The pool had an immediate effect, not only on equine health but on field size.

The track was on a healthy financial footing in 2004, and Simms purchased property at the busy 19th Avenue and Bell Road intersection adjacent to the race track. He made use of the land for commercial development and at the same time enhancing the racing operation.

Physical attributes

The track has a one mile (1.6 km) dirt oval and a seven furlong turf oval.

Racing

The following graded stakes are run at Turf Paradise:

• MBNA America West/Southwest Airlines Championship Challenge Quarter horses (QH-GII)
• AQRA Turf Paradise Open Quarter Horse Derby (QH-GII)
• AQRA Turf Paradise Open Quarter Horse Futurity (QH-GIII)

The following stakes are run at Turf Paradise:

• City of Phoenix Stakes
• Caballos Del Sol Stakes
• Turf Paradise 870 Challenge
• ATBA Fall Sales Stake - Colts and Gelding Division
• ABTA Fall Sales Stake - Fillies Division
• Ford West/Southwest Juvenile Challenge Quarter Horse
• AHW Atukee Express Stakes
• Saguaro Stakes
• Walter R. Cluer Memorial Stakes (Turf)
• Chandler Stakes (Turf)
• AQRA Futurity Quarter Horse
• Paradise Valley Stakes (Turf)
• Queen of the Green Handicap (Turf)
• The "Corona Cartel" Stakes Quarter Horses
• Arizona Breeders' Futurity - Colts and Geldings Division
• Arizona Breeders' Futurity - Fillies Division
• Black Mountain Handicap
• Turf Paradise Quarter Horse Championship
• Mesa Handicap
• Arizona Juvenile Fillies Stakes
• Arizona Juvenile Stakes
• Cactus Wren Handicap
• Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile (Turf)
• Swift Stakes
• Glendale Handicap (Turf)
• Sun Devil Stakes
• Rattlesnake Stakes
• Kachina Handicap
• G Malleah Handicap
• Princess of Palms Handicap
• Turf Paradise Derby
  Turf Paradise Derby
  The Turf Paradise Derby is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually between early and mid February at Turf Paradise Race Course in Phoenix, Arizona. The race is open to three-year-old horses and is competed over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt...
  
  
• Arizona Oaks
• Phoenix Gold Cup
• Turf Paradise Handicap (Turf)
• Sun City Handicap (Turf)
• Palo Verde Stakes
• Cactus Handicap
• Coyote Handicap
• Tempe Handicap (Turf)
• Scottsdale Handicap
• Arizona Stallion Stakes (Turf)
• Wildcat Handicap (turf)
• Cactus Flower Handicap
• Sandra Hall Grand Canyon Handicap
• Arizona Breeders' Derby
• Joanne Dye Stakes
• Ann Owens Distaff Handicap
• Dwight D. Patterson Handicap (Turf)
• Desert Sky Handicap (Turf)
• ATBA Spring Sales Stake
• Hasta La Vista Handicap