Yavapai Downs gets Unanimous Approval to Move Forward

Photo by Coady Photography

Yavapai Downs took another important step toward bringing summertime horse racing back to Arizona as the Arizona Racing Commission unanimously approved a three-year temporary permit for the track’s new ownership group.

Plans call for live racing to begin at Yavapai Downs in 2019, running from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Simulcast wagering could begin as early as July 1 this year to build purses for the live season, with the first Off Track Betting facility to be at the racetrack site in Prescott Valley.

Yavapai Downs last conducted racing in 2010. The track was purchased out of federal bankruptcy court for $3.22 million by J&J Equine Enterprises LLC, an entity formed by brothers and Phoenix-based JACOR Partners principals Tom, Dave and Mike Auther and their partner Joe Jackson, along with longtime racing executive Corey Johnsen. J&J Equine Enterprises was granted a temporary permit to conduct live racing for fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021. A permanent permit is pending the Arizona Racing Commission staff completing its due diligence.

In its meeting last Thursday, the Arizona Racing Commission also approved veteran racetrack operator Ann McGovern as the track’s general manager.

Yavapai Downs sits on 120 acres on the northeast edge of Prescott Valley, located eight miles from downtown Prescott in a rapidly growing market.

(from JR Communications news release)