Q-RACING JOURNAL—NOVEMBER 17, 2015—The Arizona Dept. of Racing has approved a 13-day meet in 2016 for historic Rillito Park Racetrack in Tucson.

According to a post on the track’s Facebook page, Rillito Park will offer live racing on weekends from January 30-March 13. The lone exception to this schedule is Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, when there will be no live racing.

Rillito Park was established in 1943 and is considered the birthplace of modern American Quarter Horse racing. The AQHA has placed an historical marker there to recognize the track’s contribution to the development of the sport, including experimentations with grading races, weighted handicaps, and photo-electric timers. A 5/8-mile track was added for Thoroughbred racing in ’53.

The Rillito Park Foundation, which operates racing at the park, is in the final stages of negotiations with Pima County to secure a five-year operating agreement for the track.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.