4 Final Visits to Turf Paradise in 2022 and 2023

Many of us had suspected for some time that the owner of Turf Paradise in Phoenix wanted to sell.  News of that broke by September of 2023.  At this point, nobody is sure if there will be a buyer as one deal fell through.   Nor will we know if any new buyer will want to continue horse racing, which began here in 1956.   That also means an end to the off track betting they had in well over 30 locations.  

Horse racing in Prescott Valley at Arizona Downs also cancelled their summer season.   

A darn shame.   Rillito Park
in Tucson, however, says they will continue. I do remember they had meets around the county fair in Cochise County.   So we'll see what happens with that.

I loved photographing the race horses.  I grew up near a sulky track in Michigan so I was familiar with horse racing.   

But it looks like horse racing might be finished in Phoenix.  

*UPDATE!  It now appears new owners are going to take Turf Paradise!   Read more here:  https://www.horseracingnation.com/news/Additional_details_emerge_on_would_be_Turf_Paradise_buyers_123

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Images from 11 March 2023 HERE

Images from 30 January 2023 HERE

Images from 4 November 2022 HERE

Images from 16 March 2022 HERE

Arizona Downs Horse Racing in Prescott Arizona

I've photographed horse racing mostly at Turf Paradise in Phoenix.   I've also captured images at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky.   But I never photographed at Arizona Downs until Wednesday 21 July 2021.

First things first.   Arizona Downs is beautiful.   Very modern building.   Not the best days for racing.  Their schedule this year only has racing Tuesday and Wednesday.   Imagine the crowds if they were racing on Saturday and Sunday.

Message to Turf Paradise: Look at how beautiful Arizona Downs is.   

I hope to come back and spend more time.   One thing I'd do differently is bring my 24-70mm lens.   I had the Tamron 100-400mm lens and I didn't need that kind of reach.   You are very close to the action at Arizona Downs.   

I capture images on a Canon EOS R6 and on this day used the Tamron 100-400.  Post processing in Lightroom mostly.   I also used PureRAW, Topaz, and Luminar.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Click the photo below for all of my images from Arizona Downs!