Arizona HBPA extends simulcast agreement with Turf Paradise through Dec. 31

The board of the Arizona Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association on Friday approved an extension to its existing agreement allowing Turf Paradise to import full-card simulcasts to Dec. 31, according to the executive director of the organization.

The extension was passed by a “slim margin” of the 10-person board, according to Leroy Gessman, the Arizona HBPA’s executive director. The current extension was set to expire on Sunday, which would have led to a blackout of full-card simulcasts at the state’s 37 off-track betting locations.

The Arizona HBPA held the vote one day after Richard Moore, who is leading a group that is in negotiations to buy Turf Paradise, told the Arizona Racing Commission that acquisition of the track is in the final stages but that the process to review his group’s suitability for a license could take several more months. The license review is done by the Arizona Department of Racing, which is an agency within the Arizona Department of Gaming.

Gessman said on Friday that the horsemen have still not met with Moore, but that “architects and contractors” were at Turf Paradise on Thursday putting bids on “upgrades to the clubhouse.” Arizona’s chief state steward said at the commission meeting on Thursday that repairs are being done to the track’s rail and grandstand exterior, and that the grass course is being seeded and fertilized as if in preparation for live racing.

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Moore told the commission that he would like to start a live racing meet on Jan. 13 provided the license review is successful.

Gessman said that horsemen met with the current owner, Jerry Simms, on Thursday after the meeting, and that Simms said that the track would attempt to open the backside to horsemen in mid-December.

“If we can push that up, we will,” Gessman said.

In September, Simms said that he planned to close the track, after a deal to sell the track fell through. But within days of that announcement, the new buying group emerged. Horsemen then agreed to an extension of the simulcast agreement through Nov. 12, so that the state could build up purse money during the off-season.

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