PRESCOTT, AZ—MAY 17, 2018—According to an article on The Daily Courier website, dcourier.com, earlier this month the Arizona Racing Commission unanimously approved a three-year temporary permit for the Yavapai Downs' new ownership group last week. Live horse racing could begin as early as 2019.

Veteran racetrack operator Ann McGovern was also approved by the commission as Yavapai Downs' general manager. She has previously held posts as President and General Manager of Ruidoso Downs, Vice-President of Operations at Sam Houston Race Park and Director of Operations at Remington Park.

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, purchased the track earlier this year.

Yavapai Downs, under new ownership, is expected to kick off its first live meet on Memorial Day weekend 2019 and run thru Labor Day.

The first Off Track Betting facility will be at the racetrack site in Prescott Valley and simulcast wagering could begin as early as July 1 this year to build purses for the live season.

The longtime racetrack was shuttered in 2010 after previous owner, Gary Miller, assumed a $5.5 million federal loan, but was unsuccessful in bringing horse racing back to the track.

Miller filed for bankruptcy in 2015 and the property sat vacant until the current ownership group purchased the facility out of federal bankruptcy court for $3.22 million in January 2018.

J&J Equine Enterprises has been granted a temporary permit to conduct live racing for fiscal years 2019, 2020 and 2021 while a permanent permit is pending the Arizona Racing Commission.

Commission staff is completing its due diligence and are expected to approve a permanent permit upon completion.