PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A north Phoenix horse racetrack is gearing up to kick off Saturday’s opening day.

Forty-two horses died at Turf Paradise between June 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022, attracting the attention of the Arizona Racing Commission. At least two sales have fallen through, so Turf Paradise is still up for sale.

In the meantime, the track’s license was renewed for another three years; this year, Turf Paradise is expecting more than 1,700 horses this season.

“We have a total, I think there are eight or nine veterinarians here this year. Some are state veterinarians and they are both veterinarians and regulators,” said Vincent Francia, the general manager of Turf Paradise.

“In terms of injuries, the goal of every racing season is no horse racing injuries. That’s always the goal it doesn’t change. Last year when we did the boutique meet, we only had two injuries, fatal injuries,” Francia said.

Last year was a shortened season running from January through May. Francia says it’s been like that since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is the first where we’re back to how we generally run a race meet which is from the first Saturday of November, to the first Saturday of May, which is the Kentucky Derby and it’s a 105 racing days,” he said.

The racetrack has a three-year agreement with the horsemen this season, and it will host races nearly every day through May.

“Almost everyday, every horse gets out on the track. Either jogs, gallops, breezes. Some of them pony, just with a pony horse and our tracks close on Fridays, so Fridays they get a day off,” said Vann Belvoir, a horse trainer for the past 26 years. He’s worked at Turf Paradise on and off for about seven years.

“The way we take care of them, shoot if every human person was taken care of like these horses you’d be going to get your pedicure, manicure, your bed changed everyday, somebody bathing you, exercising you. I mean they’re pampered animals that’s for sure,” Belvoir said.

The crew said horses are examined before every race to ensure they’re healthy. A horse is also tested per anti-doping and medication regulations whenever it wins.

If a horse dies, necropsy results are analyzed to see if Turf Paradise vets missed something or if there is something they can do better.

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