Turf Paradise 29 January 2024

A day many horse racing fans in Arizona didn't think would come.   I thought horse racing at Turf Paradise was finished once last years season ended in May of 2023. 

So it was a happy surprise when the ownership decided to have a shortened season starting 29 January 2024.    

Who knows if Turf Paradise will have an operating track next year.  But for now, horse racing will live on at least until May of 2024.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

For images from my visit, click HERE 

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

Barrel Racing in Wickenburg's Rancho Rio 15 April 2021

I've photographed team roping at Rancho Rio in the past, so I was familiar with the arena.   A great ride of less than an hour from my Phoenix home.   

Barrel racing is one of the main events the ladies participate in at rodeos.   They bring a lot of passion and skill to the sport.

The town of Wickenburg is just a bit up the way from Rancho Rio.  It has a very welcoming western flavor.   And, the area is somewhat cooler than Phoenix.  I checked the weather and the high in Phoenix on the 15th wa 81 and the high in Wickenburg was 77.  

Enjoy the views around barrel racing this day!

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Click the photo below to see all the images from team roping from Wickenburg....

Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show 16 February 2020

Scottsdale hosted the 65th Arabian Horse Show.   This is from a visit I made on Sunday 16 February for the afternoon show.   The entire show ran from 13 to 23 February.    

Just outside the arena was the largest horse-related shopping area I’ve ever seen.   

Some of the events that afternoon were the English Pleasure Championship, the Hunter Pleasure Championship, and the always popular Arabian Mounted Native Costume Championship.   

The arena always presents challenges for the photographer. The lighting is uneven.   Plus, it’s mixed lighting between sunlight and artificial light.   I captured images with a Canon EOS R and the Canon 24-240mm lens.   I opened the aperture to f/4 and ISO usually around 3200.   I used Lightroom in post processing, along with Luminar 4 and some selected images I also used Topaz Simplify 4.

Until My Next Adventure,

See you on down the road,

Jim Patterson

Here's a slideshow of all of my photos.... ENJOY!

Another season of horse racing has started at Turf Paradise in Phoenix.


Although I could not  attend the opening day of 12 October 2019, I did make it to the Monday 14 October meet.  



Temperatures in the upper 80s and blue skies welcomed several hundred fans.

I captured images with a Canon EOS R and Tamron 100-400mm lens.  Post processing in Lightroom and Luminar 4.



Special hello to head of security Dan Adams who came out to greet me.  He had recognized me from other times I visited.  I want to plan a photowalk to Turf Paradise soon!

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road,

Jim Patterson

Here's more of my photos.... ENJOY!

June 2019 Photography

June 2019 saw me photograph the Orme School of Mayer Arizona where we did some animal and owner portraits along with some cowboy images. 

Then I went to San Diego where the West Coast School of Professional Photography holds a week long session.  This time, I was in premier portrait photographer Tony Corbell's class.  

The week concluded with two days in and around Shelter Island and La Jolla.  I took images of the Shelter Island Marina, La Jolla's Scripps Aquarium, and the coast around La Jolla.  

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

Team Roping at Rancho Rio in Wickenburg

Did you know Wickenburg, Arizona is the capital of team roping?  I didn’t.  Last Saturday I went to Rancho Rio in Wickenburg to find out what was going on.  

It was qualifying time on Saturday 14 April and there was money at stake.  These folks put up their own money to enter and hopefully can get some of that back and more. 

I’m used to photographing rodeos where team roping is one of the many events.  There’s just team roping here.  And there is an association involved in team roping, too.  It’s the NTR or National Team Roping.  

A surprise and a pleasant one that that is that many of the two person teams included women!  I’m guessing father/daughter, husband/wife teams.  And I suspect I saw some father/son teams, too.

The finals of the 14 April event are here!

If you want to learn more about team roping and the culture around it, the Team Roping Journal called the Phoenix area a team roping paradise.  Some of these people are transplanted from other areas of the country, come out to visit Rancho Rio, and eventually make it their part or full time home.

The good news for me is that from the north side of Phoenix, it’s a short under an hour drive.  

Until My Next Adventure,

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

… and all the photos!

Late addition:

I took five of my images and did some selective coloring.  I hope you enjoy.

Horses Help Barn Bash

Horses Help provides equine (horse) activities and therapies since 1987 and is located on the north side of Phoenix, Arizona.  I’ve gone to probably five Barn Bashes in the past.  It’s a worthy organization that has helped many people.  So I am always glad to attend this fun fundraising event!

This time, I brought Callista and Rick along for the ride and it looked like they had a good time. 

If you are interested in donating money or your time, please contact Horses Help at their website or phone.

Until My Next Adventure, 

See You On Down the Road!

Jim Patterson

Photos from Flickr ...and, here are all the keeper photos!