Turf Paradise Picks, Entries and Results

Turf Paradise Track Details

Address: 1501 W Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85023

Website: www.turfparadise.com

Meeting:  Turf Paradise’s race meet begins in mid-October and runs through early May. The two richest stakes races the track offers are the $75,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile for older turf horses and the $75,000 Phoenix Gold Cup for older dirt sprinters. It also puts on many minor stakes in the $25,000-$30,000 range for open company and Arizona-breds. As the name implies, the track conducts turf racing in addition to dirt racing.

History:  Turf Paradise was built in the mid-1950’s by Walter Cluer, a successful millwork company founder and manufacturer from Phoenix, AZ. Cluer purchased a large parcel of barren desert in Phoenix in 1954 with the ambitious goal of building a racetrack on it. His dream was realized two years later, when Turf Paradise first opened for business on January 7, 1956. Cluer remained as head of the track until 1980, when Herb Owens took over. Later in the decade, the track was purchased by Robert Walker, who had made his fortune in the aerospace industry. Walker was instrumental in the legalization off-track betting in the state of Arizona, and Off-Track Betting facilities flourished during his time as owner of Turf Paradise. The track was purchased by its current owner, Jerry Simms, in the year 2000. Simms immediately put in $5 million worth of renovations into the facility and the track has fared well under his oversight.

Facilities:  One of the few minor tracks that hasn’t become a racino, the focus at Turf Paradise is solely on the horse racing. There are several ways to take in the races at the track, including the grandstand, clubhouse, the Turf Club, the Players’ Club and even a picnic area. Admission varies from $3 to $5 to access these areas, and there are also ample dining options on site. Racing is conducted over a one-mile dirt oval and a seven-furlong turf course.