Turf Paradise Undergoes Major Renovations, Led by Racing Industry Veteran
PHOENIX – Turf Paradise, the Valley’s oldest major sports venue, is undergoing meaningful renovations and a strategic shift under new management, aiming to revitalize the 70-season-old racetrack. The changes are spearheaded by Tom Ludt, recently appointed general manager, bringing decades of experience from prominent roles in horse racing.
Ludt previously managed Santa Anita Park, served as the head of the Breeders’ Cup, and spent over ten years with the Kentucky Racing commission before taking the helm at the Phoenix track near 15th Avenue and Bell Road. He believes the Phoenix market possesses untapped potential.
“It’s a wonderful city.It’s the perfect time of year. They have a great population, economics, everything fits well, and they’ve just never really pushed horse racing,” Ludt said. “I thought this was a great chance to take horse racing to the next level.”
The initial phase of the renovations focuses on track safety, with millions invested in the track surface itself, as well as the turf course. “This all starts with the horse. (The horse) is our star. And so you spend an enormous amount of money on this dirt and then maintaining this turf course,” Ludt explained.”It’s vital,and we’ve spared no expense.”
Improvements also extend to the fan experience, with new general admission and grandstand areas being constructed.
The renewed vision of Turf Paradise has already attracted industry veterans, including legendary track announcer Vic Stouffer, who came out of retirement after a celebrated career at Hollywood Park. “These are major players in the racing industry,and I realized that I wanted to,you know,I’d like to be a part of that,” Stouffer said.
While optimistic, the new team acknowledges the challenge ahead. Ludt emphasized the need to appeal to both seasoned horse racing enthusiasts and newcomers. “We have to create an environment that’s appealing to the novice and the big player,” he said. “We wont people to come back to the track.”
Turf Paradise currently offers live racing Mondays through Thursdays, with some Fridays and Saturdays. A full schedule is available on their website: https://www.turfparadise.com/.
