Rising from the ashes - Will racing at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona resume?
/![From the Ashes?Article by Annie LambertTurf Paradise, in Phoenix, Ariz., normally runs one of the longest race meets in the country—late October through early May. The COVID-19 pandemic, among other suspected culprits, has closed the track. Sadly, there is a chance the Phoenix icon may never mythically rise from the ashes.Turf Paradise horsemen were notably shell-shocked by the abrupt shutdown of the year-around training and racing facility. Owned by Jerry Simms for the past 20 years, Turf Paradise has been in operation since 1956 and was the first organized professional sport franchise in the state. Trainers, track workers, jockeys and even horse owners and breeders have established residences in the area, with children in schools and year-around businesses associated with the racing life.Skeptics immediately challenged the notion that COVID-19 was the only, or even the main, reason for shutting down Turf Paradise and turning so many lives toward an uncertain future. Some horsemen have called the track home for decades, and pandemic restrictions along with no clear answers coming from track management have their lives in limbo.Joyce Long, 82, trained a small stable at Turf Paradise for 30 years, relishing the people and the lifestyle there. Track management shutting down the track, she implied, was devastating for everyone.“Turf Paradise was such a wonderful place,” Long explained, speaking in the past tense. “There were so many people that depended on it; they would come in here from all over. Sure, the purses weren’t as big as some places, but you could make a living here.”But wait, the Arizona desert sands are shifting between racing and no racing nearly daily as Turf Paradise, Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, Arizona Downs and other racing entities wrangle to reach sophisticated agreements that ensure live racing in 2021 and hopefully beyond.Pack Up, Get OutOn March 15,2020, Turf Paradise management suddenly canceled the remainder of their 2020-2021 race meet. There was no approval to do so by Arizona’s racing regulators, nor were horsemen consulted regarding the issue.Horses were not allowed to train as of March 16, with the stable area completely shut down on March 28. Trainers were told to remove all their belongings including corrals and hot walkers. The abrupt closure by Turf Paradise’s ownership and management left horsemen with no place to go. Due to pandemic regulations, trainers had no options to move their stables to other tracks. And, the track’s large Canadian contingency, which is about 30 percent of the horses, could not return to Canada due to border closures.The Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, led by President Robert Hutton, opposed the shutdown. Without trivializing the seriousness of COVID-19, the AHBPA pointed out how major tracks across the country were able to safely allow horses to train and run meets, albeit without spectators.Turf Paradise might have been strictly adhering to CDC guidelines when stopping racing and training, yet management opted to keep OTBs open for simulcasting. This did not sit well with horsemen who quietly suspected Simms was planning to sell the property to developers.Negotiations & ArbitrationsThere is a whole lot more to the Arizona racing story than a bad flu bug pandemic, however. The ongoing “discussion” between Turf Paradise management and the AHBPA is no doubt front and center. Control of purse money generated by OTBs and live racing mixed with signal disputes has everyone shaking heads, or wringing their hands. It seems a confusing mess.When the AHBPA’s contract with Turf Paradise was ending in 2019, Hutton called around the country to different jurisdictions looking for options to negotiate a better deal with Simms. Horsemen were contributing half of the $800,000 annual advertising expenses. In renegotiations the horsemen’s costs were lowered to $150,000.“I wanted to see invoices [regarding the expenses] because there was an obvious discrepancy as to how the track was being maintained and promoted; I had issues with that and so did my board members,” Hutton pointed out. “The other big issue was at the OTBs where [the track] was getting 60 percent and horsemen 40 percent. We felt that was not fair and equitable, especially when at the racetrack it was 50/50. It seemed people were being driven away from the racetrack to go to the OTBs—60/40 at OTB compared to 50/50 at the track; the math is pretty easy to do. It was not to our advantage.”“We negotiated to 52/48, and it was acknowledged in arbitration that the HBPA has a right to have their own bank account with the purse money and we get to control it,” he added. “Both parties agreed.”In February of this year, Hutton and three of his board members met with the Thoroughbred Owners of California to discuss fairness in simulcast signals, a confusing subject at best. Legislatively, California doesn’t pay more than three percent for an out-of-state signal coming into their state, according to Hutton. Contrarily, Turf Paradise’s takeout was 23 percent. Horsemen in California were splitting up 20 percent, and horsemen in Arizona were splitting up three percent.“I told Jerry [Simms], ‘This isn’t right,’” Hutton said. “‘We’re going to cut off the signal from Turf Paradise going outward to any of the Monarch/Stronich tracks.’ “Two or three days later, Mr. Simms announced the closing of the meet by March 14th and that the horsemen had two weeks to get out with no exercising of horses.”With empathy for equine health and safety, the HBPA negotiated a settlement agreement that horsemen would pay for half the training as far as maintenance of the track and other expenses pertinent to operating the track for training only. The agreement lasted through May 10 when, fortunately, Canterbury Park and a few other tracks began accepting horses again. Many horsemen were still left without a destination.Hutton was trying to decide what to do with a barn area full of horses, limited training and a track owner flip-flopping on training and racing dates.“I told the [HBPA] members that I didn’t think Simms was ever going to run again,” Hutton said. “After a meeting he said he’d open September 1st for training and November 1st to race. I think he kept changing the dates because in the settlement agreement he had, his network of OTBs would only get the signals from out-of-state tracks through January 1.”Hutton wrote Simms a letter asking 17 questions, one of the most pertinent being: “What guarantee will there be that you will not evict horsemen off the track?” Simms offered no guarantees. At an August 8 commission meeting, track management declared they were not interested in any race days. They then proceeded to sell the air conditioner and all furniture out of the clubhouse and took all the pictures off the walls, according to Hutton and others.“I mean, the place is an absolute ghost town,” Hutton opined. “It looks like something you’d find in a documentary on Afghanistan. There is no intention of ever running a race at Turf Paradise again.”Hold Your HorsesWonders never cease, however. On September 24, via the Turf Paradise Facebook page, General Manager Vincent Francia announced the track had submitted live racing dates for an 84-day winter meet (January 2 through May 1, 2021) to the Racing Commission for consideration of approval during their October 8 meeting.Francia did stipulate: “First, the $2.1 million that the AHBPA transferred out of the Turf Paradise Horsemen’s account into an AHBPA account must be returned to the horsemen’s purse account at Turf.”The AHBPA leadership, the notice reminded, is on public record as saying whoever is running live gets the money. “Keep in mind,” they added, “that $2.1 million does not belong to the AHBPA or to Turf Paradise.” “That money belongs to the horsemen who would run live at Turf Paradise.”According to Francia, when the $2.1 million is back in the horsemen’s account and the projected $1 million generated in current OTB accumulation between now and December 31, added to the purse monies generated during the proposed live race meet; Turf Paradise will be able to offer the horsemen a 25-percent purse increase for the proposed race meet—an amount of $80,000 to $100,000 daily.The second condition: the AHBPA approves simulcasting for both export (Turf Paradise’s signal being sent to other race tracks for wagering); and import (bringing in other race track signals for wagering) must be approved through May 31, 2021.Turf Paradise advised in their September 24 announcement: “Those approvals are essential in order to continue generating money into the purse account, and we simply cannot conduct a live race meet with AHBPA constantly threatening to withdraw those approvals.”The track stated their two conditions were reasonable as was “offering the Arizona horsemen a live race meet.” Track management also pointed out the challenges they will face, having to take certain action and following protocols dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.Since the Turf Paradise proposed racing dates were announced, ADOR Racing Director Rudy Casillas has advised the track that AHBPA is “willing to make only weekly payments.”“Turf horsemen conduct business daily with the Horsemen’s Bookkeeper,” management stated. “As an example, if a horseman wanted to withdraw money from his/her account under Mr. Hutton’s plan, they would have to wait a week until the funds are deposited.”Details & DelaysWhile Turf Paradise management laid out stringent requirements for an agreement with AHBPA, Hutton also stayed steady. Representing the AHBPA, Hutton responded via letter to Francia. Hutton agreed to Francia’s request for a winter meet.Hutton did not agree to a new AHBPA board of directors, but rather that he left the horsemen’s choices of leadership to their discretion. He also requested that Simms honor the agreement, giving control of the horsemen’s purse account to the AHBPA.It was also demanded that the track and all facilities be brought up to standard for safe conditions for humans and horses.“Right now, the main track, the turf track and the training track are not fit to run on,” Hutton wrote. “The backside is full of trenches, power boxes with wires exposed, and the roads and bridle path are in terrible condition. The barns are, as always, dilapidated.”When the Arizona Racing Commission met October 8, the agenda included the possible approval of the Turf Paradise 2021 winter meet dates. Stipulations were discussed regarding those dates. There was concern that safety protocols were in place, providing for a safe environment for horses and people. It was believed that maintenance equipment had been sold off.Francia guaranteed that essential equipment such as tractors, water trucks and ambulances were on site.Turf Paradise representatives requested a reduction in the minimum number of live racing dates as required by law to operate their OTBs due to the current state and federal emergency declarations of the COVID-19 pandemic.Also important for the commissioner’s consideration were simulcast agreements between The Stronach Group’s Monarch Content Management and Arizona Downs, located in Prescott Valley, as well as Monarch’s agreement with Turf Paradise.Monarch negotiates simulcast contracts on behalf of Stronach tracks Pimlico, Laurel Park, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields. They are charged with the same duties for Monmouth Park, Tampa Bay Downs and Del Mar.Arizona Downs has had an ongoing feud with Monarch since their reopening in May 2019. Formerly operated as Yavapai Downs, the track feels it is subjected to different rules than Turf Paradise. The commission unanimously voted for a special hearing to settle all of the Monarch contract issues.Will all the parties involved find common ground? After months of hardball negotiations, it is hard to say.“I’m an eternal optimist,” Francia offered. “It would be a tremendous help to the Arizona horse owners—the people who both race in state and those who come from out of state—to have this meet and get some revenue into their operations.”Horsemen are hoping for the Turf Paradise they remember from her grand past to rise from the ashes, but only time will tell.Side Bar 1 of 1Upgrades, Repairs, Safety?Image 1: The stable area electrical grid remains in ill repair, with poor lighting creating safety violations for early morning workers.Image 2 & Image 3: A water main rupture in the stable area flooded out several barns. The rupture caused horsemen to hand water horses from a single water source for an extended time when repairs were not made in a timely manner.(Photos provided anonymously.)Turf Paradise is regulated by the Arizona Racing Commission as set out in Section A of R19-2-104 under Permittee Responsibilities: “A permittee shall maintain the grounds in a neat, clean and safe condition. If a steward determines that a permittee is not in compliance with this Section, the steward shall require that the permittee immediately bring the grounds into compliance.”According to long-time racetrack employees and horsemen making a living at the Phoenix track, the backside has been in disrepair and in need of repairs and/or upgrading for many years. Why stewards have not required track owner Jerry Simms to make these repairs has never been answered.Horsemen working on the backside of Turf Paradise repeat the same story of a once pristine stable area that has fallen into disarray over it’s 70-year history. Current owner Jerry Simms has made no recent improvements to the track he has owned for 20 years. Horsemen willing to speak asked to do so “off the record,” seeming to fear repercussions from management.There is a “failure to regulate,” the horsemen agreed. Regulators have ignored the deterioration of the barns, including water and electrical infrastructures. Both human and equines have been subjected to “deplorable conditions,” according to one backside worker.During an October 8, 2020, Arizona Racing Commission meeting, Turf Paradise requested an 84-day racing meet from January 2 to May 1, 2021. Approval for the proposed winter meet was pushed until involved parties reached an agreement.Will management improve conditions on both the backside and front side of Turf Paradise in their new racing agreement? One of the main stipulations is that the track would be safe for people and horses before the start of the proposed meet. CAPTIONS: (All photos by Shawn Coady Photography)#Scenics 011120 01> The starting gate at Turf Paradise has been collecting dust since the track closed to live racing last March.# Scenics 011120 12> During its heyday, Turf Paradise was known for its beautiful infield, complete with live flamingos cooling in an oasis of ponds.# Scenics 011120 07> The desert track, which opened in 1956 as the first organized professional sports franchise in Arizona, has since added a turf course.# Scenics 011120 13> Despite smaller purses than larger tracks, horsemen training and racing at the facility can make a living and have settled into the local community.# Scenics 011120 03> Snowbirds spending the mild desert winters near Phoenix enjoy live racing as they help increase track handle.# Scenics 011120 11> After being closed since 2010, Arizona Downs reopened last year only to be shut down a few months later due to an unforeseen pandemic and politics.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/517636f8e4b0cb4f8c8697ba/1603532126004-F9W3TQNIEOYJ6OP88OC3/KEYSON+-+Arizona+Breeder%27s+Futurity-+Colts+%26+Geldings+-+12-08-18+-+R06+-+TUP+-+Starting+Gate.jpg)
By Annie Lambert
Turf Paradise, in Phoenix, Ariz., normally runs one of the longest race meets in the country—late October through early May. The COVID-19 pandemic, among other suspected culprits, has closed the track. Sadly, there is a chance the Phoenix icon may never mythically rise from the ashes.
Turf Paradise horsemen were notably shell-shocked by the abrupt shutdown of the year-around training and racing facility. Owned by Jerry Simms for the past 20 years, Turf Paradise has been in operation since 1956 and was the first organized professional sport franchise in the state. Trainers, track workers, jockeys and even horse owners and breeders have established residences in the area, with children in schools and year-around businesses associated with the racing life.
Skeptics immediately challenged the notion that COVID-19 was the only, or even the main, reason for shutting down Turf Paradise and turning so many lives toward an uncertain future. Some horsemen have called the track home for decades, and pandemic restrictions along with no clear answers coming from track management have their lives in limbo.
Joyce Long, 82, trained a small stable at Turf Paradise for 30 years, relishing the people and the lifestyle there. Track management shutting down the track, she implied, was devastating for everyone.
“Turf Paradise was such a wonderful place,” Long explained, speaking in the past tense. “There were so many people that depended on it; they would come in here from all over. Sure, the purses weren’t as big as some places, but you could make a living here.”
The desert track, which opened in 1956 as the first organized professional sports franchise in Arizona, has since added a turf course.
But wait, the Arizona desert sands are shifting between racing and no racing nearly daily as Turf Paradise, Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, Arizona Downs and other racing entities wrangle to reach sophisticated agreements that ensure live racing in 2021 and hopefully beyond.
Pack Up, Get Out
On March 15,2020, Turf Paradise management suddenly canceled the remainder of their 2020-2021 race meet. There was no approval to do so by Arizona’s racing regulators, nor were horsemen consulted regarding the issue.
Horses were not allowed to train as of March 16, with the stable area completely shut down on March 28. Trainers were told to remove all their belongings including corrals and hot walkers. The abrupt closure by Turf Paradise’s ownership and management left horsemen with no place to go. Due to pandemic regulations, trainers had no options to move their stables to other tracks. And, the track’s large Canadian contingency, which is about 30 percent of the horses, could not return to Canada due to border closures.
The Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association, led by President Robert Hutton, opposed the shutdown. Without trivializing the seriousness of COVID-19, the AHBPA pointed out how major tracks across the country were able to safely allow horses to train and run meets, albeit without spectators.
Turf Paradise’s stable area completely shut down on March 28. Trainers were told to remove all their belongings including corrals and hot walkers. The abrupt closure left horsemen with no place to go.
Turf Paradise might have been strictly adhering to CDC guidelines when stopping racing and training, yet management opted to keep OTBs open for simulcasting. This did not sit well with horsemen who quietly suspected Simms was planning to sell the property to developers.
Negotiations & Arbitrations
There is a whole lot more to the Arizona racing story than a bad flu bug pandemic, however. …
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