“Claiming Crown has always attracted top trainers, jockeys, and claiming horses from throughout the country,” said Randy Sampson, president and general manager of Canterbury. “In 2009 we saw the winningest rider in this sport’s history, Russell Baze, win two races and the 2009 Eclipse Award winning jockey, Julien Leparoux, win one. They continued the tradition of great performances on this special day of racing. The competitiveness and ability of many of the Claiming Crown horses was emphasized when Furthest Land, fourth in the 2009 Claiming Crown Jewel, went on to win the $1,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.”
Conditions of eligibility for Claiming Crown 2010 will be identical to 2009, which means to be a participant a horse must have started for or below the specific claiming price since January 1, 2009. The races again will have purses ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 and the claiming levels will range from $7,500 to $35,000.
The six races are:
$50,000 Iron Horse, three-year-olds and up, starters for $7,500 or less, one mile and one-sixteenth.
$50,000 Express, three-year-olds and up, starters for $7,500 or less, six furlongs.
$75,000 Glass Slipper, fillies and mares, three-year-olds and up, starters for $16,000 or less, six furlongs.
$75,000 Rapid Transit, three-year-olds and up, starters for $16,000 or less, six furlongs.
$100,000 Emerald, three-year-olds and up, starters for $25,000 or less, one mile and one-sixteenth on turf.
$150,000 Jewel, three-year-olds and up, starters for $35,000 or less, one and one-eighth miles.
The Claiming Crown is a partnership between the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. The Claiming Crown was created to be the claiming horse owner’s Breeders’ Cup; a special racing event, created for the “average owner,” and featuring some of the most competitive horses in the country. The Claiming Crown has been held annually since 1999. For more information about Claiming Crown please visit http://www.claimingcrown.com/.
For additional information about race conditions and nominations please contact Jeff Maday at 952.496.6437 or jmaday@canterburypark.com.
