Long Turf Paradise meet to offer 44 stakes races
The $150,000 Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap and the $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup are the top stakes on a roster of 44 events worth over $2 million at Turf Paradise, which opens its 2004-05 season Friday, Oct. 1. The meet runs through May 22, 2005.
The Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Handicap, a one-mile turf race, routinely attracts not only the best middle-distance turf runners in the Southwest but some of the top Southern California runners, as well. The race is slated for Feb. 12. Also on that card are the $100,000 Turf Paradise Derby and $75,000 Arizona Oaks.
The $100,000 Phoenix Gold Cup will be run March 19. The six-furlong sprint, to be run for the 49th time, also lures top horses from Southern California.
Turf Paradise will inaugurate the $50,000 Cotton Fitzsimmons Mile on Jan. 8. The mile turf event is named in honor of the late coach and executive of the Phoenix Suns basketball team and serves as a prep for the Turf Paradise BC Handicap.
2004-05 Turf Paradise stakes schedule
| 2004 DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.,Oct. 2 | CITY OF PHOENIX H. | 3YO & Up, F&M | 6 Furlongs | $40,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 9 | CABALLOS DEL SOL H. | 3YO & Up | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 16 | ATBA FALL SALES STAKES* | 2YO C&G | 6 Furlongs | 35,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 16 | ATBA FALL SALES STAKES* | 2YO F | 6 Furlongs | 35,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 16 | MACK HALL STARTER H.* | 3YO & Up | 6 1/2 Furlongs | 20,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 23 | AHWATUKEE EXPRESS STAKES | 3YO F | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 30 | SAGUARO STAKES | 3YO | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 6 | WALTER R. CLUER MEMORIAL H. | 3YO & Up | 7 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 13 | CHANDLER H. | 3YO F | 7 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 20 | PARADISE VALLEY H. | 3YO | 7 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Nov. 27 | QUEEN OF THE GREEN H. | 3YO & Up, F&M | 1 Mile (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 4 | ARIZONA BREEDERS' FUTURITY | 2YO** | 6 Furlongs | 55,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 4 | ARIZONA BREEDERS' FUTURITY | 2YO F** | 6 Furlongs | 55,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 11 | BLACK MOUNTAIN H. | 3YO & Up | 1/16 Miles | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Dec. 18 | MESA H. | 3YO & Up, F&M | 6 1/2 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,Dec. 26 | ARIZONA JUVENILE STAKES | 2YO | 6 1/2 Furlongs | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 1 | CACTUS WREN H. | 4YO & Up** | 6 1/2 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 8 | COTTON FITZSIMMONS MILE | 4YO & Up | 1 Mile (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 15 | KACHINA H. | 4YO & Up F&M | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 22 | SUN DEVIL STAKES | 3YO F | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| Sun.,Jan. 23 | RATTLESNAKE STAKES | 3YO | 1 Mile | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Jan. 29 | SWIFT STAKES* | 4YO & Up | 5 1/2 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 5 | PRINCESS OF PALMS H.* | 4YO & Up F&M | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 12 | TURF PARADISE B.C. | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 150,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 12 | TURF PARADISE DERBY | 3YO | 1 1/16 Miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 12 | ARIZONA OAKS | 3YO F | 1 1/16 Miles | 75,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 19 | GLENDALE H. | 4YO & Up F&M | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 50,000 |
| Sat.,Feb. 26 | COYOTE H. | 4YO & Up | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,March 6 | PALO VERDE H. | 3YO | 6 1/2 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sun.,March 13 | CACTUS CUP H. | 3YO F | 6 1/2 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,March 19 | PHOENIX GOLD CUP | 3YO & Up | 6 Furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,March 19 | SUN CITY H. | 3YO & Up, F&M | 1 Mile (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,March 26 | TEMPE H. | 3YO | 1 Mile (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,April 2 | SCOTTSDALE H. | 3YO F | 1 Mile (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,April 9 | ARIZONA STALLION STAKES | 3YO | 7 1/2 Furlongs (T) | 25,000 |
| Sat.,April 16 | CACTUS FLOWER H. | 3YO & Up, F&M | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,April 30 | SANDRA HALL GRAND CANYON H. | 3YO & Up** | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,April 30 | ARIZONA BREEDERS' DERBY | 3YO** | 1 1/16 Miles | 55,000 |
| Sat.,April 30 | MAXINE M. PIGGOTT STAKES | 3YO F** | 6 1/2 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,April 30 | ANN OWENS DISTAFF H. | 3YO & Up, F&M** | 6 Furlongs | 40,000 |
| Sat.,April 30 | DWIGHT D. PATTERSON H. | 3YO & Up** | 1 1/16 Miles (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,April 30 | PARDEE STARTER ALLOWANCE* | 3YO & Up, F&M** | 1 Mile | 15,000 |
| Sat.,April 30 | TOM BANE STARTER ALLOWANCE* | 3YO & Up** | 6 Furlongs | 15,000 |
| Sun.,May 1 | WILDCAT H. | 3YO & Up | 1 3/8 Miles (T) | 40,000 |
| Sat.,May 7 | DESERT SKY H.* | 3YO & Up, F&M | 1 Mile (T) | 40,000 |
| Sun.,May 22 | ATBA SPRING SALES STAKES | 2YO | 5 Furlongs | 35,000 |
| Sun.,May 22 | HASTA LA VISTA H. | 3YO & Up | 1 7/8 Miles (T) | 50,000 |
*Restricted; **Az.-bred