HISA Gives Turf Paradise Until March 31 to Fix Rail

Turf Paradise, previously fined by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority for rule noncompliance, has been ordered by a HISA board panel to complete repairs of an "unsafe" racetrack rail by March 31 or be prohibited from out-of-state simulcast export beginning next month.

The March 17 decision from the HISA board panel, distributed by HISA to the media March 21 following a March 16 hearing conducted via videoconference, was signed by former Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, now board panel chair.

Beshear wrote of a "significant" safety risk, which according to hearing testimony is related to gaps and edges on the railing. "There is no dispute that the condition of the railing is unacceptable or that to date Turf Paradise has failed to effect the repairs clearly articulated in (an agreed Feb. 24 order)," he continued.

In that order, the track agreed to repair all the deficiencies no later than March 12.

Turf Paradise general manager Vince Francia and Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms also spoke during the hearing, with their testimony noting "the unanticipated extent of the necessary repairs, and the consequent length of time necessary to effect repairs while access to the railing was limited on a daily basis by ongoing racing activities," the HISA report said.

The board declined to impose monetary sanctions upon Turf Paradise.

The Phoenix track, which has come under criticism in recent years for safety issues, can choose to appeal the panel board decision to the full board.

-Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that HISA could prohibit racing at Turf Paradise next month. HISA does not have the authority to cancel live racing. It can prohibit a track from conducting "covered horseraces"—races subject to interstate off-track or advance deposit wagers. Turf Paradise could continue to run races, but the races could not be exported out of state or be subject to an ADW bet.