Arizona Downs opens inaugural meet

PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. – For decades the Arizona racing industry annually migrated in the late spring, escaping the coming sizzling summer heat of Phoenix for the cooler clime of northern Arizona, at Prescott Downs and later Yavapai Downs. However, Yavapai Downs failed to open in 2011, forcing horsemen to go out of state for spring and summer activity.

Friday the former Yavapai Downs reopens with a new name: Arizona Downs.

Arizona Downs was the name of a now-closed track in the Phoenix area that opened in the 1950s. The new Arizona Downs is running a 35-day meet of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, primarily on Saturdays and Sundays. The meet closes on Labor Day, Sept. 2.

J & J Equine Enterprises, an entity formed by brothers Tom, Dave and Mike Auther, partner Joe Jackson, and longtime racing executive Corey Johnsen, bought the former Yavapai Downs for $3.22 million out of bankruptcy court in January 2018 and have spent approximately $7 million to get the facility ready.

“There is a lot of excitement about Arizona Downs here in the state and among horse racing fans across the country,” said general manager Ann McGovern. “Year-round racing strengthens the industry and benefits everyone – the horse owners, breeders, jockeys and related professions that will now be able to stay in the state to compete. And of course there are thousands of families who will be able to enjoy live racing in Arizona throughout the year.”

Adding to the shine of the inaugural meet was the hire of Michael Wrona as track announcer. The Australia native has called world-class racing at numerous tracks.

Gates open at 9 a.m. with first post at 1 p.m.

The opening-day feature is the $20,000 Arizona Downs Inaugural Stakes for 3-year-olds and upward at a mile on dirt. The event, which goes as race 7 on an eight-race card, drew 10, led by Mister Shook and Beat the Heat.

Mister Shook, a 6-year-old gelded son of Smart Strike owned by the Sawyer Cattle Company and trained by Dan McFarlane, has won his last three, all on turf at Turf Paradise. Five of his seven wins have come on grass, but he has won on dirt.

Beat the Heat, a 5-year-old gelded son of Uh Oh Bango owned by the Triple AAA Ranch and trained by Lymon Perron, also comes here on a roll, having won three of his last four. As with Mr. Shook, however, his best work has come on turf, the surface for all three of his wins. He has a 7-0-1-3 record on dirt.

Classy Class, a 7-year-old gelded son of Discreetly Mine owned by Paul Miller and trained by Justin Evans, easily won an optional-claiming sprint at Sunland Park April 9 and ran third in a sprint stakes at SunRay Park May 4. All seven of his wins have come on dirt.