Initially set to close this Saturday, Turf Paradise in north Phoenix will now stay open to simulcast horse races for wagering until mid-November.
The racetrack is now in talks with a potential buyer. Turf Paradise general manager Vincent Francia said its simulcast contract was extended by the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association through the state racing commission’s next meeting.
“So, the horsemen of course were happy to hear this. Instead of the contract expiring on Sept. 30, they extended it to Nov. 12," Francia said.
For now, the extension delays a shutdown of Turf Paradise’s 37 off-track betting sites across the Valley.
Francia said live horse racing could resume in January, pending a successful purchase. The current owner of the 67-year-old racetrack, Jerry Simms, is retiring and wants to sell the property near 19th Avenue and Bell Road.
→ What the future holds for the historic Turf Paradise horse racing track
