Turf Paradise, which spent recent years mired in a never-ending cascade of controversy, is enjoying a quiet, productive summer of projects and improvements, according to reports from both the Arizona Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (AZHBPA) and the Arizona Racing Commission (AZRC) during the commission's monthly meeting Thursday.“The Turf team is doing a wonderful job, improving all the areas, not only inside, but outside as well,” said Brian Duncan, the AZRC's racing enforcement and operations manager. “The department does remain pleased with the steady progress they're making on the property.”Duncan detailed some of the offseason work: “They continue to level all the areas in between the barns, adding in clean fill dirt to raise and improve the stall flooring.“There was an electrical issue in K row, which was completed, along with the timer issues as well.“There was buildup in the infield of debris. That has all been removed near the ponds.“Sprinkler system is being added to the paddock, and there's many other backside areas that are being attended to as well,” Duncan said.“What a difference a year makes,” quipped the AZRC's chairman, James Padish, after Duncan concluded his report.The AZHBPA's executive director, Leroy Gessmann, agreed.“It's a pleasant change from last year, definitely.”Neither elaborated, but their remarks alluded to previous difficulties between the Arizona racing community and the track's former operator, Jerry Simms, who still retains ownership of the property.For much of the last decade, conflicts involving Turf Paradise have played out in the courts and at highly charged AZRC meetings, with horsemen battling management over issues like race dates, purses, OTB privileges, simulcast signals and safety concerns.Within a four-month period in 2023-24, two separate sales of Turf Paradise fell through.Prior to the 2025-26 meet, Simms leased the track and its network of 38 off-track betting (OTB) facilities to a limited liability company headed by Gary Hartunian, a California-based real estate businessman who races horses under the stable name Rockingham Ranch. The lease was reported at the time as being for two years, with options to extend.Both Hartunian and Tom Ludt, the general manager he hired, have since said the company is banking on a long-term future for Arizona racing, even if that means transferring the racing operation to another location if Simms eventually does sell the property.Ludt kept his remarks brief when called to speak during the July 9 meeting.“We're continually making improvements and working on getting ready for the upcoming meet,” Ludt said.Added Gessmann, “We're just looking forward to finalizing the dates and the purses, and hopefully within the next 30 days we'll have that accomplished.”The most recent Turf Paradise season–the track's 70th–spanned 102 dates over Nov.10-May 2.The post Horsemen, Commission Appreciate Productive Turf Paradise Offseason appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.