Turf Paradise is back in action in north Phoenix, but its new operators are already talking about a future that might not include the familiar grandstand at 19th Avenue and Bell Road. New boss Gary Hartunian, who took over the racetrack last year, is running the current meet on a short-term lease while longtime owner Jerry Simms continues to shop the land underneath the main facility. So for now, the team is patching up what it can while quietly gaming out where a replacement track might land.
The Arizona Racing Commission granted conditional approval for Hartunian’s Skyfall 7 LLC to lease Turf Paradise and its network of off-track betting sites under a two-year agreement that can be extended year-by-year for up to three more years, according to Paulick Report. The conditional permit comes with hard reporting deadlines and financial checkpoints that will determine future renewals. Track leaders say those green lights give them room to run this season while they think through longer-term options.
The track opened its 70th season under the new regime on Nov. 10, 2025, with veteran racing executive Tom Ludt stepping in as general manager, Cronkite News reports. Turf Paradise’s own website still lists the address as 1501 W. Bell Road and names both Hartunian and Simms among the track’s officers. Management says its immediate focus is on repairs and fan-facing upgrades while it weighs what the property’s long-term future should look like.
Land Sale Clouds Future At 19th And Bell
The land itself remains in Simms’ hands, and he told Axios Phoenix he is actively trying to sell the parcel near 19th Avenue and Bell Road, with no clear timeline for finding a buyer. Hartunian said talks to purchase the land hit a wall over price, so Skyfall is preparing to scout other options and will, in his words, "probably start looking for new sites in a year or two," according to Axios Phoenix. Ludt said the team would target roughly 125 acres for any new complex, and Hartunian estimated a replacement facility could run about $40 million to $50 million, not including the cost of land.
Neighbors And Code Issues Complicate Plans
Meanwhile, nearby residents have been vocal about quality-of-life issues tied to the track, including manure piles and swarms of flies, and the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County have issued citations, as documented in earlier reporting on biohazard concerns. Those enforcement headaches could influence how quickly the site is redeveloped and how attractive it looks to potential buyers. Track officials say they are working to meet code requirements while keeping the racing calendar intact.
Regulatory Timeline To Watch
The Racing Commission attached strict conditions to Skyfall’s approval, requiring a lease commencement notice by Dec. 18, 2025 and proof of uninterrupted leases by Aug. 31 in each subsequent year, with the permits set to expire June 30, 2028 unless every condition is met, Paulick Report notes. Those dates give Hartunian a window to steady operations, but they also serve as firm checkpoints if the track decides to move. Any new operator would also have to navigate municipal approvals for off-track betting sites layered on top of the state oversight.
For now, Turf Paradise keeps the gates open and the horses running while managers shore up the aging plant and quietly weigh next steps. Valley race fans and neighbors alike are left watching to see whether a buyer emerges for the Bell Road site. Any relocation, along with the hunt for the right 125-acre parcel, would unfold over years rather than months and could significantly reshape a very familiar corner of north Phoenix.
