Officials at Arizona Downs have canceled the 2020 horseracing season at the track at 10501 E. Highway 89A in Prescott Valley.
The reason for cancellation was cited as “concerns for public safety and the new state orders restricting gatherings in public places.”
Ordinarily, the racetrack operates from Memorial Day weekend in May until Labor Day weekend in September.
Because of continued increases in COVID-19 cases throughout the state, Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order in June prohibiting gatherings of more than 50 people unless they were allowed by local officials. Prescott Valley officials opted to adopt the same policy.
Arizona Downs co-owner Tom Auther, in a news release, said: “We were hopeful we would be able to host racing but understand and respect the decision. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our employees, fans, horsemen and jockeys.”
He said he is looking forward to a safe and successful opening of Arizona Downs in 2021.
The formal written announcement came July 22 from spokesman Craig Braddick.
Arizona Downs previously was known as Yavapai Downs from the time it was built in 2000 until it went bankrupt in 2011. The racetrack sat vacant until 2018 when J & J Equine Enterprises LLC bought it in bankruptcy court for $3.21 million.
The renamed racetrack reopened in May 2019 after considerable renovation. Both thoroughbreds and quarter horses have raced on the mile-long track.
More information is available online at www.azdowns.com.
Horseracing Season Canceled at Arizona Downs
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Prescott Living Magazine
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LOCAL NEWS: The Northern Arizona VA in Prescott has provided an update on their Homeless Veteran Program. ![]()
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PRESCOTT, Ariz. – The Northern Arizona VA Health Care System’s Homeless Veteran Program, along with its community partners, housed 445 Veterans in 2022, exceeding their target goal by 157%.![]()
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Nationally, the 2022 goal was to house 38,000 homeless Veterans— a goal that was exceeded by 6.3%. The Department of Veterans Affairs remains committed to ending Veteran homelessness and increasing housing placements is critical to achieving this goal.![]()
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“This success is a result of efforts built on the evidence-based ‘Housing First’ approach, which prioritizes getting a Veteran into housing, then provides the Veteran with the support they need to stay housed,” said Steve Sample, Medical Center Director.![]()
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In Northern Arizona, there are a variety of services designed to house homeless Veterans. The VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans (HCHV) Program includes VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers that provide formerly homeless Veterans with subsidized housing and a wraparound, interdisciplinary case management team to address issues that may have contributed to homelessness. The program provides justice outreach services, employment services, health care services through the Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team, outreach, and transitional housing support. The VA also works closely with community partners to house homeless Veterans through a system called Coordinated Entry, where community agencies along with the VA regularly meet to coordinate efforts and ensure homeless Veterans do not fall through the cracks.![]()
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“We are fortunate that there is so much support for helping homeless Veterans in our area,” said Jessica Taylor, Homeless Program Coordinator for the Northern Arizona VA. “This success could not have been possible without great collaboration between our community partners, Housing Authorities, Tribal partnerships, and support from our local communities.”![]()
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Looking ahead, the VA will continue to explore new avenues to house homeless Veterans and overcome housing barriers. In collaboration with U.S VETS, Gorman & Company, and the Arizona Department of Housing, a supportive housing project on the grounds of the VA’s Fort Whipple campus is in the initial planning stages. The VA is also expanding outreach to ensure that homeless Veterans are aware of services available to them. ![]()
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For Veterans who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness— or if you know of homeless Veterans in need of assistance, call 877-424-3838.![]()
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For more information on renting to or hiring homeless Veterans, visit: www.va.gov/homeless![]()
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About the Northern Arizona VA: Through its main campus in Prescott, along with Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs) in Cottonwood, Flagstaff, Kingman, Lake Havasu City, and Anthem— with additional clinics in Tuba City, Page, Kayenta, Chinle, Holbrook, and Polacca, the Northern Arizona VA provides services to approximately 33,000 Veterans over a catchment area of more than 65,000 square miles.![]()
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www.facebook.com/VAPrescott
Empty Bowls of Prescott Arizona has announced that it will distribute $24,000 to local foodbanks! Their 2022 Empty Bowls fundraising event took place in September, and donations can be made year round on their website.![]()
prescott-empty-bowls.square.site
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