Turf Paradise Trip Report

Got to check out Turf Paradise on Saturday the 13th of December while visiting Arizona. Great weather as it was 68 degrees Fahrenheit and sunny, a huge improvement over frigid New York. The racing was bottom level with small purses and $3.5k claimers. The stakes race was a $7.5k mixed breed stakes which is filled with horses that could not win at the bottom level at a top level track. The track itself was clean and it was dollar day so just about anyone could afford a at the track. It was a quiet afternoon.

















Turf paradise is no Saratoga or Keeneland but it is worth visiting if you are in town. There was cheap food, plenty of friendly tellers and the racing was okay. The apron was expansive and the sparse crowd meant no betting lines. The pools were small compared to the big tracks but the racing was formful. Turf Paradise is the kind of track that a gambler that likes dirt racing could excel at betting on . Too bad Turf Paradise does not have the handle to justify a purse structure to snatch top class dirt runners from Pro-Ride Santa Anita during the long winter. The track seem like it was maintained very well.
















I was involved in a poker tournament on Friday with all Phoenix locals. The poker game consisted of 20-30 year olds who loved gambling on poker. Surprisingly few of the poker players had been to Turf Paradise or knew that Saturday is dollar day at the local track. There seemed like the town had potential for a successful horse track as gambling is entrenched in the local economy. There were many Indian casinos and betting on dogs seemed somewhat popular. I noticed many people betting quinellas on Turf Paradise which flags them as a dog bettor.















Things were quiet at Turf Paradise, the only connection to Aqueduct was when Glitternmeporage won the fifth race. I remember when this horse broke his maiden in New York while in the Rick Dutrow barn. Glitternmeporage was quite the character in New York as he was known as a tail swisher and dangerous horse to ride, he frequently ducked out and lugged in while running. He has blossomed at Turf Paradise and is a pure win machine.

The other interesting thing at Turf Paradise was that the Discovery Channel was filming the races and interviewing connections. Looking forward to seeing what show this footage is used on. Turf Paradise is a sleepy little track in a great weather town. If you are in Phoenix it is worth a visit. It could be a good alternate to Gulfstream for winter racing trips if you owe people in Florida money and need to find some racing and warmth.