If you're ever in Arizona...

[Badactor]

My wife & I took a road trip to the University of Arizona last week.
Heather wanted to check out the Race Track Industry Program.
It was a nice drive across the desert from So-Cal to Phoenix & Tuscon.

While we were so close, we decided to ADD A RACE TRACK to our resumes.
We grabbed a Motel 6 near Turf Paradise - got up early Thursday and went to morning workouts.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/UpInClass/TRAVELER/100_3977.jpg

Morning Works @ Turf Paradise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTtPKXpjZ0E

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/UpInClass/TRAVELER/100_3981.jpg
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http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/UpInClass/TRAVELER/100_4041.jpg

Backstage @ Turf Paradise...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYgbQ30rrwA

Then it was back to Motel 6 for a little more sleep...
before returning to the race track in the full light of day.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/UpInClass/TRAVELER/100_4046.jpg
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TURF PARADISE panorama...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvM4PhiJF-I

If you're ever in Arizona...
Check out TURF PARADISE! :ThmbUp:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/UpInClass/TRAVELER/100_3978.jpg
Dell Yount (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0950306/)

[tbwinner]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing

[JBmadera]

very cool, thanks!

[Scanman]

Nicely done!

[HUSKER55]

THANKS! NICE PICS!

[cdax]

Looks great. Nice pics. Gonna have to plan a trip there. I'll be sitting at that Tiki Bar during the whole card.

[Badactor]

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n291/UpInClass/TRAVELER/100_4053.jpg

[BlueShoe]

Pretty, nice facilities for what is considered a minor track. In spite of being less than a days drive away, and having been in Arizona often, have never made it to Tup. Now, if only they would do something about that 20% takeout on WPS wagers, which according to the HANA site is the highest in North America.

[rastajenk]

"Marketplace" and Racetrack? That's a clever new twist.

[gm10]

Looks like they have great facilities for what is after all a small track.
I loved driving through Arizona. Beautiful, hypnotizing.

[mannyberrios]

Thanks for sharing those pictures

[schweitz]

Since I wager on Turf Paradise frequently and have been to Phoenix a few times you would think I would have made it to the track. Never have, but after looking at your pictures I will my next time out there. Thanks for sharing.

[cj's dad]

Been there- nice place to visit. If you make it to the bar in the clubhouse on the 2nd floor say hi to Connie for me.

[Track Collector]

"Marketplace" and Racetrack? That's a clever new twist.

A number of years ago I believe they sold off some land on the edge of their property, so now you pass by a big Walmart store just before entering the racetrack property. Maybe that is why they use the term "marketplace".

Almost every time I visit one of the AZ fairs or Rillito Park (both of which only run on the weekends), I sandwich visits to TuP on Friday, Monday, and sometimes Tuesday. When made in February/March, these trips make a nice escape from colder East Coast winters.

While I find TuP difficult to handicap, it is usually well-maintained with lots of green plants/shrubs and an attractive turf course, making it kind of an oasis in the middle of the desert.

[wisconsin]

Nice place to go for a day of racing. Best Nacho's of any track I have visited.

[IdaBet.com]

I am currently working for an ADW, Idabet.com, but once worked at Turf Paradise and you won't find a nicer and friendlier track around. The g.m. Vince Francia is totally a people person and they do care about fans.

It's setting reminds you a smaller scale Santa Anita and you can't beat the weather in the Valley of the Sun all winter.

Hopefully one day, they'll have slots to sure up racing, but you can get pretty good fields and turf racing all winter.

Like we preach at Idabet.com, we are for the players and so is Turf Paradise and should be a part of any vacation plans in the Southwest.

[Badactor]

Thank you for the excellent responses.
Beautiful Turf Paradise, indeed! :)

ON THE TURF (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a01p4K_Zn-s)

ON THE DIRT (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmFlF0s8ok0)

Heather & I fell in love with the place!

[deathandgravity]

Love that place.. grew up playing the horses @ TUP.

Sure miss it.

[BlueShoe]

Turf Paradise may be a fine facility, but aside from that, Arizona does not appear to be very horse player friendly from what I have been able to gather. This is a bit surprising since Arizona is a state known for personal rights and freedoms. During my visits to Arizona was unable to do anything racing related since was traveling with my then SO. Arizona otb sites mostly are in bars, bowling alleys, and restaurants, and have been told that their out of state coverage is often limited. Next, is not ADW wagering banned in Arizona, with no online betting permitted, one of the few states to impose this restriction? Comments from those with experience and recent knowledge of the racing scene away from TUP would be helpful.