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Peg Price | all galleries >> Galleries >> Historic Tucson > Historic Rillito Downs
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13 February 2005 Peg Price

Historic Rillito Downs

4502 North First Avenue in Tucson

Rillito Downs is an historical landmark where quarter horse racing was born over 50 years ago. Many racing innovations happened at this park such as the photo finish.
Bob Baffert's first thoroughbred winner, Flipper Star, won here on January 29, 1979. Other world famous sprinters who raced here were Shu Fly, Joe Reed II, Piggin String, Hard Twist, and Queenie.
In addition to quarter horses, thoroughbreds and Arabians also run at Rillito.
The racing season lasts from January through the first of March.

The "chute" is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.


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Catherine 26-Oct-2008 04:02
The home to the north of the racetrack was built by J. Rukin Jelks, the man who started quarterhorse racing in Tucson. The home was sold to John (Jack) and Mary Shoemaker in the mid-50's where Mary lived until her death in 2006. Jack was a horse owner and trainer until the mid-60's. A historical survey was completed last Spring on the home, with the hope of turning it into a horse racing museum. The home was designed by Fred O Knipe, who was once partnered with Jaastad. It's a beautiful home that I hope others will be able to enjoy.