Horse Art Gallery at Arizona Downs Racetrack
My Horse art gallery opened this past weekend at Arizona Downs Racetrack in Prescott Valley, AZ.
This has been on my radar since 2018 when the “facility was purchased for $3.22 million in bankruptcy court by J & J Enterprises, LLC. It was announced on June 20, 2018 that the facility would reopen under the new name of Arizona Downs, with the intent to resume simulcasting later in the summer and live racing in the summer of 2019.”
Arizona Downs Racetrack remodels and reopens
I had been following the Arizona Downs Facebook page as well as inquiring directly with the facility to see if they were going to open a Gift Shop. I anticipated that Arizona Downs might want to offer some locally made items in their gift shop, especially Horse related. It was looking like they had their hands full working on the remodel, the concessions, the restaurant, and especially the new simulcast betting room. The gift shop was on hold until a later date.
The race track opened May 24th 2019 with a big celebration and big crowds. They had a rough go of it with some simulcast licensing issues which shut down live racing for just a few weeks.
Connecting the dots at Arizona Downs
Many of you know that I also own and operate a Prescott computer repair business called The PC M.D.
The fun of living in a small town it that sometimes it seems like everyone knows each other or is somehow connected. The whole “six degrees of separation”.
Julie and Dennis Jennings, local area Realtors and friends had raced their horses there for many years. Dennis even worked to build out the barns there. They had mentioned on several occasions that I should find a way for me or my art to be a part of this facility.
My brother, who owns race horses was visiting last week and I wanted to show him the new racetrack while he was in 
town. So, we headed out to take a self guided tour. While we were checking out the racetrack, I bumped into another client who offered to introduce me to Ann McGovern, the General Manager of Arizona Downs. As it turns out, Ann had already been in town browsing through the art galleries and had picked up my bio and contact information from my downtown gallery location, Van Gogh’s Ear.
She showed me the big open space as you get off the elevators of the third floor to access the dining room. She had envisioned a few large horse art pieces to hang on this wall so people would view them as soon as they exited the elevators.
Moving quick with horse art at Arizona Downs
Ann invited me to submit some photographs I had on hand for her review. Fortunately, I had just finished a show and had several canvas art pieces available. Ann loved them all and I acted quickly. After all, the re-opening day was this past weekend and they were opening to another huge crowd!! Christy and I went early the next morning (opening day) and staged the art work perfectly. It was so smooth!
We both stood there appreciating the brand-new Horse Art Gallery at Arizona Downs. We listened as the staff exited the elevator and trumpeted “WOW”! One gentleman said “Nice touch” and many others complimented me on the horse art.
I expect that those words will continue on through the remainder of the weekend and the rest of the horse racing season at Arizona Downs.
Thanks to all those that played a part in making this happen- a Horse Art Gallery at Arizona Downs Racetrack.
Jody Miller is a professional photographer specializing in Horse Photography, Equine Photography, and Equestrian photography. Her work can be viewed online here in her gallery section, and she is also featured at these Arizona Galleries: Van Gogh’s Ear Gallery on Whiskey Row in Prescott, AZ, Hart of AZ Gallery in Cottonwood and Coops Coffee House at Talking Rock Ranch and now Arizona Downs Racetrack.