1) The Claiming Crown is open to horses who have run in claiming races. Claiming races are the most common condition in American racing. All horses in a claiming race are available for sale. For example, in a $35,000 “claimer”, all horses can be bought by a registered buyer for $35,000. Most claims are made by trainers for a specific owner.
2) The Claiming Crown is a joint partnership between the National Horsemen’s Benevolence and Protection Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association with the intention of providing a day for “working class” horses.
3) The Claiming Crown was established in 1999 and offers claiming horses the unique opportunity to run for purses that, in 2011, range from $50,000 to $150,000.
4) Horses that have run for claiming prices from $7,500 to $35,000 after January 1st of the previous year are eligible to run in the Claiming Crown. The higher the claiming price, the higher the Claiming Crown purse they are eligible for.
5) In 2011, the Claiming Crown will be held for the first time at the Fair Grounds in Louisiana. For most of its history, it was hosted by Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota with the exception of 2002 (Philadelphia Park) and 2007 (Ellis Park)
6) The 2011 Claiming Crown is comprised of six races: one restricted to fillies and mares, one on turf, two dirt sprints, and two routes (over one mile).
7) The two races run over one mile also have the largest purses. The Emerald is run at a 1 1/16 miles over the turf and is worth $100,000. The Jewel is at a 1 1/8 miles on the main track with a $150,000 purse.
8) Trainers Scott Lake and Mike Maker Maker each have won three races on a single Crowning Crown card. Lake completed his trifecta in 2000 and Maker his in 2007.
9) Trainer Scott Lake leads all trainers with a total of eight Claiming Crown wins. Mike Maker has five.
10) Antrim County is the only horse to win two Claiming Crown races in consecutive years, winning the Iron Horse in 2009 and the Jewel in 2009. Al’s Dearly Bred also won two (2001 and 2006).
