Arizona is mainly concentrated on thoroughbred horse racing, with four major race tracks that conduct live racing and year-long simulcasting. Arizona is home to Turf Paradise and the Turf Paradise Derby, a $1 million preparatory race for 3-year-olds vying a place at the prestigious Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs and all the way to the Triple Crown.
Turf Paradise was born when Phoenix businessman Walter Cluer, purchased 1,400 acres of barren desert in 1954. Cluer was also a horse owner whose personal dream was to build a first-class race track in Phoenix. The track was inaugurated in 1956.
The Turf Paradise Derby is a $1 million stakes race held annually in February. It is participated by top 3-year-old contenders eyeing a spot in the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown. List of Kentucky Derby Preparatory Races
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Rillito Downs Park Racetrack is a five-eighths mile racino in Tucson, Arizona. A recently remodeled track, it offers Quarterhorse, Thoroughbred and on occasion, even Arabian horse racing. This famous track was also the birthplace of many racing innovations that are still in use today.
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Yavapai Downs (formerly Prescott Downs) is a one half mile horse track in Prescott Valley, Arizona featuring quarter horse and thoroughbred racing. It offers live racing from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The track is a 1 mile Thoroughbred and Quarter horse track. During the off season other events include the Yavapai County Fair, Horse Events, and exhibitions.
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Find off track betting (OTB) station locations in the Arizona area:
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