For more than 60 years, Turf Paradise has been an iconic horse racing facility in North Phoenix. The 1,400-acre facility is located near 19th Avenue and Bell Road.
Horse Racing in Phoenix
The track is comprised of a clubhouse building that faces a 1-mile dirt oval track. Turf Paradise opened its doors in 1956, offering live thoroughbred horse racing from October - May and simulcast coverage. The track added off-track betting in the 1990s.
The facility has changed hands several times during its history, and the current owner is Jerry Simms, who purchased the facility in the year 2000.
The track is locally known for its live horse racing, as well as its many promotional days. The racetrack formerly had “Quarter Days” with 25-cent admission, popcorn, sodas, and other concessions. As time went on, this became “Dollar Days” due to increasing costs. Promotional giveaways included shirts and other memorabilia.
Turf Paradise has occasionally hosted other events, such as flat track motorcycle racing in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
New Ownership
In April 2023, local news stations reported that Simms had signed an agreement to sell the racetrack to CT Realty, a California-based developer. He told Axios that owning the track has been a great experience for the past 23 years, but it’s time to sell. “I’d rather spend time with my grandkids” he said.
What’s Next
The prospective owners of the racetrack say that they plan to continue racing operations for one or two more seasons.
Looking at the CT Realty website, their other projects include logistics park and industrial spaces in California, Texas, Illinois, and New Jersey. A managing partner for CT Realty told news website Axios.com that portions of the Turf Paradise site may be redeveloped “with industrial and multi-family uses” pending city approval. No firm plans have been announced at the time of reporting.
A Developing Area
The area around Turf Paradise has been redeveloping, slowly. Turf Paradise Marketplace including a Super Walmart and Sam’s Club opened just north of the racetrack in 2007.
In 2018, a San Diego developer purchased the 83-acre site of the former Phoenix Northgate development at a public land auction. They swiftly began construction of the Bell 17 Business Park. The site plan calls for 3 Industrial, 3 Flex-Manufacturing, and 5 Corporate Office buildings to be constructed, as well as 2 parking structures and 3 retail pads, totaling approximately 800,000 sq. ft. of uses.
A single 101,000 sq. ft. flex building has been completed as of late 2020, which is fully occupied by two tenants at the time of publication in 2023.
Looking Ahead
Redeveloping portions of the Turf Paradise site could continue the improvement of this area going forward. The long term prospects for Turf Paradise may include shutting down racing operations within the next few years.
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