“Horse racing in our state is not dead,” vows AZHBPA President

Open letter from AZHBPA President Lloyd Yother to our horsemen and women and the industry:

Subject: Arizona’s horse racing future

There has been a lot of deliberating on the future of Arizona racing over the past several months — racing that many in the state depend on for their livelihoods. I have had a few days to evaluate Turf Paradise and Arizona Downs’ announced decisions to not hold race meets in 2023 or 2024. However, I am here to make sure everyone in Arizona is well aware that horse racing in our state is not dead, and I plan to fight like hell to make sure of that!

Devastation from this decision will be felt by many. The horsemen and horsewomen throughout Arizona will especially be negatively impacted, but also all who earn their living through the equine industry here in our great state. Owners, trainers, grooms, hot-walkers, our breeding farms and staff, veterinarians, farriers, feed and tack stores, hay straw and alfalfa producers will experience a substantial negative economic impact.

However, there are two other significant and important segments that will suffer as well: our race fans and the betting public who love horse racing and whose support drives our equine industry.

I want to be clear: Hope is not lost and I know there is considerable interest in saving Arizona horse racing. As the President of the Arizona HBPA, as well as an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds and quarter horses, I can assure you that the AZHBPA board of directors and I will continue to work on behalf of all horsemen to keep racing alive and return it to the state as soon as possible.

While some discussions cannot be made public yet, I can tell you there are several entities interested in negotiating with Arizona horsemen to establish a race meet at an existing track or even possibly building a new facility. There are still many avenues to consider that will save Arizona horse racing. There are even options that include the possibility of running a late race meet in 2023 or possibly early in 2024. If these don’t pan out, our board will continue to exhaust every means available to bring horse racing back to Arizona in the very near future.

Rest assured that I and your AZHBPA board will not rest until horse racing returns.

Respectfully yours,
J. Lloyd Yother
President AZHBPA & AQRA