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Important Dates

Saturday, December 1, 2012 - Claiming Crown XIV at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino

In the News

December 3, 2011: It Happened Again shines in Claiming Crown Jewel - Brisnet.com website

December 3, 2011: It Happened Again takes Claiming Crown feature - Louisville Courier-Journal website

December 3, 2011: It Happened Again wins Claiming Crown Jewel - New Orleans Times-Picayune website

December 3, 2011: Claiming Crown Recap: It Happened Again Wins $150,000 Jewel - SportsNOLA.com website

December 3, 2011: It Happened Again takes Claiming Crown feature - Thoroughbred Times website

December 3, 2011: It Happened Again Wins Claiming Crown Jewel - The Blood-Horse website

December 3, 2011: Fair Grounds: It Happened Again sharp off long layoff in Claiming Crown Jewel - Daily Racing Form website

December 3, 2011: Pedrolino, Atthebuzzer Win Early Claiming Crown Stakes - Fair Grounds Racecourse & Slots website

December 2, 2011: Maker will saddle morning-line favorites in richest Claiming Crown events - Brisnet.com website

December 2, 2011: Fortus: Claiming Crown doesn't provide nearly enough bang for the bucks - New Orleans Times-Picayune website

December 1, 2011: A Look at Weekend Horseracing - UPI website

December 1, 2011: Maker a player again in Claiming Crown - Daily Racing Form website

December 1, 2011: Stakes Advance: Claiming Crown Comes to Fair Grounds Saturday - SportsNOLA.com website

December 1, 2011: Fair Grounds: Claiming Crown at a crossroads - Daily Racing Form website

December 1, 2011: Finley: Pull the Plug on the Claiming Crown - ESPN website

November 30, 2011: New-look Claiming Crown debuts Saturday - Thoroughbred Times website

November 30, 2011: Maker a Triple Threat in Claiming Crown Jewel - The Blood-Horse website

November 30, 2011: Claiming Crown has 39 entrants in five races; Rapid Transit canceled - Daily Racing Form website

November 26, 2011: Rapid Redux will skip Claiming Crown - Daily Racing Form website

November 26, 2011: Rapid Redux to bypass Claiming Crown - Thoroughbred Times website

November 24, 2011: Claiming Crown: 52 pre-entered in six races - Daily Racing Form website

November 24, 2011: Rapid Redux connections leaning toward Claiming Crown - Thoroughbred Times website

November 23, 2011: Rapid Redux considered for Claiming Crown Iron Horse - Brisnet.com website

October 25, 2011: Rapid Redux nominated for Claiming Crown - Thoroughbred Times website

August 11, 2011: Regular, open Claiming Crown nominations close August 26 - Brisnet.com website

December 21, 2010: Fair Grounds to Host Claiming Crown for First Time in 2011 - HorseRace Insider website

December 20, 2010: Fair Grounds to Host Claiming Crown for First Time in 2011 - National HBPA blog

December 20, 2010: Claiming Crown moves to Fair Grounds, will be run in December - Daily Racing Form website

December 20, 2010: Claiming Crown Moves to Fair Grounds for 2011 - The Blood-Horse website

November 19, 2010: Claiming Crown likely to move to Fair Grounds, be held in December - Daily Racing Form website

July 26, 2010: Claiming Crown Handle Plummets - Daily Racing Form website

July 24, 2010: Headache takes Claiming Crown Jewel to cap perfect day for trainer, owners Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey - Shakopee Valley News website

July 24, 2010: Headache gets there in Claiming Crown Jewel - Daily Racing Form website

July 24, 2010: Pounding Headache Gives Maker Key 'Crown Win - The Blood-Horse website

July 24, 2010: Headache Proves Pain for Challengers in Claiming Crown - Thoroughbred Times website

July 24, 2010: Ness Has Profitable Homecoming - Minneapolis Star-Tribune website

Gulfstream Park to Host 2012 Claiming Crown on Opening Day

March 13, 2012 -- Lexington, KY -- Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida will host the 14th running of the Claiming Crown on the opening day of its 2012-2013 meet, Saturday, December 1, 2012. The 2012 event will see a significant increase in purses to $850,000 for seven races with the individual race purses ranging from $100,000 to $200,000. In addition to the six Claiming Crown races conducted at the 2011 event, the Tiara for fillies and mares on the turf will return this year. 

“We’re ecstatic to play host to the 14th running of the Claiming Crown on opening day December 1,” said Gulfstream Park President and General Manager Timothy Ritvo. “Horses competing in the claiming ranks are many of the toughest in the world. They’re game and they build loyal followings within the Thoroughbred community, whether with fans, owners or trainers.

“This is an important event to our chairman, Mr. Frank Stronach, and we’re very excited about kicking off our 2012-2013 season with the Claiming Crown. The management and staff at Gulfstream look forward working with the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.”

“The Florida HBPA Board of Directors thought that the purses for the Claiming Crown had become quite outdated and stale over its 13-year history, and thus, chose to significantly increase them. The Board felt that if the Claiming Crown were to come to Gulfstream Park, it needed to be the best Claiming Crown ever,” said Florida HBPA Executive Director Kent Stirling. “We are proud to join with Gulfstream Park, the National HBPA and TOBA to revitalize this great day for our claiming horses. Claiming horses are the backbone of our industry and deserve to be celebrated on their day with higher purses, and what we expect to be record setting live handle and simulcasting numbers.”

“We are excited and honored that Gulfstream Park has agreed to host the 2012 Claiming Crown,” said TOBA president Dan Metzger, who also serves as chairman of Claiming Crown Limited. “The enthusiasm and purse commitment from both Gulfstream Park and the Florida HBPA has been extraordinary and we believe that this year’s event promises to be our best yet.”

“The National HBPA is extremely pleased that this year the Claiming Crown will be hosted by Gulfstream Park and the Florida HBPA. Their commitment to purses and a quality day of racing certainly elevates the Claiming Crown to a new level and will position it among the premier racing days of the year anywhere in the United States,” said Joe Santanna, President and Chairman of the National HBPA, one of the co-partners of the Claiming Crown. “The Gulfstream Park Claiming Crown races provide horsewomen and horsemen across the country with an exceptional opportunity.”

Patterned after the Breeders’ Cup, Claiming Crown was designed to reward Thoroughbred racing’s “blue-collar” horses and will offer races at varying distances on both dirt and turf. 

This will mark the first time Gulfstream Park has hosted the event, which debuted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1999. Canterbury has hosted 10 of the first 13 renewals of the event. The Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 2002, at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky in 2007 and Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2011.

Further details on the event’s race lineup, purse structure, nomination and entry deadline schedule and eligibility dates to be released soon.

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.

TOBA (www.toba.org), based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA’s mission is to “improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders.” Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member.

The National HBPA (www.nationalhbpa.com), based in Lexington, Kentucky, is the largest racing horsemen’s representative association in North America, with 30 affiliate organizations and over 30,000 member horsemen. Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies, Equineline.com, Finish Line Horse Products, Inc. and Horseman Labor Solutions are proud corporate partners of the National HBPA.

39 Entered in Five 2011 Claiming Crown Races for Saturday

November 30, 2011 -- Lexington, KY -- A total of 39 horses were entered today in the five races that will comprise the 2011 edition of the Claiming Crown. The event will be held this Saturday, December 3 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

The 2011 Claiming Crown was originally expected to be a six-race event, but the $75,000 Rapid Transit Stakes failed to garner enough entries to be carded for Saturday.

Click here to see the entries for Saturday at Fair Grounds, which includes the five Claiming Crown races.

The Claiming Crown is a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Patterned after the Breeders’ Cup, the Claiming Crown was designed to reward Thoroughbred racing’s “blue-collar” horses and offer races at varying distances on both dirt and turf. This will mark the first time Fair Grounds has hosted the event, which debuted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1999. Canterbury has hosted 10 of the first 12 renewals of the event. The Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 2002 and at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky in 2007. For more information about Claiming Crown please visit www.claimingcrown.com.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 84-day 140th Thoroughbred racing season, running November 24, 2011 to April 1, 2012, is highlighted by the 99th renewal of the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby on closing day. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

TOBA, based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to "improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member.

For more information, contact Jason Boulet, Racing Secretary, Fair Grounds Race Course at (504) 948-1246 or Jason.Boulet@fgno.com.

Rapid Redux Tops 2011 Claiming Crown Pre-Entries

November 23, 2011 -- Lexington, KY -- Pre-entries for the 2011 running of the $500,000 Claiming Crown closed on Monday, November 21. Topping the list of pre-entries was Robert Cole's Rapid Redux, who the same night pre-entries closed won his 20th consecutive race to eclipse the consecutive win record held previously by Zenyatta and Pepper's Pride. This year's six-race Claiming Crown will be contested on Saturday, December 3 at Fair Ground Race Course & Slots.

A total of 52 horses were pre-entered in the six 2011 Claiming Crown races. Final entries for the races will be taken on Wednesday, November 30.

Click here to see the pre-entries for the 1 1/16-mile, $50,000 Iron Horse Stakes.

Click here to see the pre-entries for the 6 furlong, $50,000 Express Stakes.

Click here to see the pre-entries for the 6 furlong, $75,000 Rapid Transit Stakes.

Click here to see the pre-entries for the 6 furlong, $75,000 Glass Slipper Stakes for fillies and mares.

Click here to see the pre-entries for the 1 1/16-mile $100,000 Emerald Stakes on the grass.

Click here to see the pre-entries for the 1 1/8-mile $150,000 Jewel Stakes.

The Claiming Crown is a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Patterned after the Breeders’ Cup, the Claiming Crown was designed to reward Thoroughbred racing’s “blue-collar” horses and offer races at varying distances on both dirt and turf. This will mark the first time Fair Grounds has hosted the event, which debuted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1999. Canterbury has hosted 10 of the first 12 renewals of the event. The Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 2002 and at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky in 2007. For more information about Claiming Crown please visit www.claimingcrown.com.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 84-day 140th Thoroughbred racing season, running November 24, 2011 to April 1, 2012, is highlighted by the 99th renewal of the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby on closing day. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

TOBA, based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to "improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member.

For more information, contact Jason Boulet, Racing Secretary, Fair Grounds Race Course at (504) 948-1246 or Jason.Boulet@fgno.com.

Rapid Redux Tops 128 Nominees for the 2011 Claiming Crown

October 25, 2011 -- Lexington, KY -- Nominations closed on Friday, October 21 for the 2011 running of the $500,000, six-race Claiming Crown, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 3 at Fair Ground Race Course & Slots. A total of 128 horses were nominated, topped by Rapid Redux. Click here to see a full list of the nominees.

Rapid Redux, a five-year-old gelding owned by Robert Cole and trained by David Wells, will be attempting to tie 2010 Horse of the Year Zenyatta and New Mexico-bred standout Peppers Pride for most consecutive wins (19) by a U.S.-based horse since 1900 in a seven furlong starter allowance race this Thursday at Laurel Park. Claimed for $6,250 last fall by Wells and Cole, the son of Pleasantly Perfect has won 18 straight in the starter allowance ranks at seven tracks across the Mid-Atlantic.

Supplemental nominations (five percent of the race’s purse) will be accepted for the Claiming Crown races through Friday, November 18, 2011.

Pre-Entries for the six 2011 Claiming Crown races will be taken on Monday, November 21, at which time nominated horses must be declared for a specific race. Final entries for the races will be taken on Wednesday, November 30.

The Claiming Crown is a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Patterned after the Breeders’ Cup, the Claiming Crown was designed to reward Thoroughbred racing’s “blue-collar” horses and offer races at varying distances on both dirt and turf. This will mark the first time Fair Grounds has hosted the event, which debuted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1999. Canterbury has hosted 10 of the first 12 renewals of the event. The Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 2002 and at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky in 2007. For more information about Claiming Crown please visit www.claimingcrown.com.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 84-day 140th Thoroughbred racing season, running November 24, 2011 to April 1, 2012, is highlighted by the 99th renewal of the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby on closing day. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

TOBA, based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to "improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member.

For more information, contact Jason Boulet, Racing Secretary, Fair Grounds Race Course at (504) 948-1246 or Jason.Boulet@fgno.com.

2011 Claiming Crown Nomination Deadline is Friday, October 21; Two NHC Berths Up for Grabs in TwinSpires.com Handicapping Contest

October 13, 2011 -- Lexington, KY -- Next Friday, October 21 is the nomination deadline for 2011 running of the $500,000, six-race Claiming Crown, which is scheduled for Saturday, December 3 at Fair Ground Race Course & Slots.

Friday, October 21 is also the deadline by which any horses made eligible to the 2011 Claiming Crown via open nomination must be named by the owner or his authorized agent. Open nominations for which no horse has been identified by 12:00 midnight EDT on Friday, October 21, 2011 are invalid.

Supplemental nominations (five percent of the race’s purse) will be accepted through Friday, November 18, 2011.

The nomination schedule and forms for the 2011 running of the $500,000 Claiming Crown are available on the Claiming Crown website at www.claimingcrown.com.

TwinSpires.com will be holding an online handicapping tournament in conjunction with the Claiming Crown on December 3, and among the prizes are berths to the $2 million (estimated) Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) for the top two tournament finishers.
 
Entry fee is $200 on the day of the tournament. Players can also qualify in $25 “satellite” tournaments on any of the three days prior, November 30-December 2. The satellite tournaments give players an opportunity to qualify at a fraction of the regular cost. For every eight entrants, one entry to the Saturday contest will be awarded.
 
The Claiming Crown tournament will require players to submit $2 win and place wagers on designated contest races, all from the Fair Grounds’ Claiming Crown card. Winnings per race are capped at $52 to win and $26 to place. Order of finish is determined by highest total winnings.
 
Claiming Crown tournament players must be TwinSpires.com account holders in a state where wagering is available.

The top two finishers in the TwinSpires.com Claiming Crown tournament will earn berths to the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (including travel and lodging), which will be held in Las Vegas in January of 2012. Third through fifth place finishers will earn berths to the Horse Player World Series. All of the top five finishers receive $300 to go toward travel expenses.
 
Complete rules will be available at TwinSpires.com soon.

The Claiming Crown is a partnership between the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. Patterned after the Breeders’ Cup, the Claiming Crown was designed to reward Thoroughbred racing’s “blue-collar” horses and offer races at varying distances on both dirt and turf. This will mark the first time Fair Grounds has hosted the event, which debuted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1999. Canterbury has hosted 10 of the first 12 renewals of the event. The Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 2002 and at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky in 2007. For more information about Claiming Crown please visit www.claimingcrown.com.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 84-day 140th Thoroughbred racing season, running November 24, 2011 to April 1, 2012, is highlighted by the 99th renewal of the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby on closing day. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

TOBA, based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to "improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member.

For more information, contact Jason Boulet, Racing Secretary, Fair Grounds Race Course at (504) 948-1246 or Jason.Boulet@fgno.com.

August 26 $100 & Open Nomination Deadline for 2011 Claiming Crown Approaching, Twinspires.com to Host Event Handicapping Contest

August 12, 2011 -- Lexington, KY -- The Friday, August 26 deadline for regular ($100) and open ($250) nominations to the 2011 running of the $500,000 Claiming Crown is approaching quickly. Additionally, TwinSpires.com will be hosting a handicapping contest in conjunction with the 13th renewal of the Claiming Crown, which will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2011 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans.

Two spots in the $2 million (estimated) Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship (NHC) will be up for grabs in the TwinSpires.com Claiming Crown handicapping contest. Additional details on this exciting contest will be announced soon.

After August 21, the cost to nominate a horse to the 2011 Claiming Crown will increase to $500, and the deadline to submit nominations at the $500 cost is Friday, October 21. Nominators must also identify the horse(s) they made eligible through any open nominations by Friday, October 21.

With an open ($250) nomination, the nominating owner or his authorized agent need not identify either a specific horse for nomination or the intended Claiming Crown race at the time of nomination. The nominating owner or his authorized agent must identify the nominated horse no later than 12:00 midnight EDT on Friday, October 21, 2011. Open nominations for which no horse has been identified by 12:00 midnight EDT on Friday, October 21, 2011 are invalid.

Supplemental nominations (five percent of the race’s purse) will be accepted through Friday, November 18, 2011.

For more information, contact Jason Boulet, Racing Secretary, Fair Grounds Race Course at (504) 948-1246 or Jason.Boulet@fgno.com.

2011 Claiming Crown Nomination Schedule and Forms Now Available on Redesigned ClaimingCrown.com

March 24, 2011 -- Lexington, KY -- The nomination schedule and forms for the 2011 running of the $500,000 Claiming Crown are now available on the newly redesigned ClaimingCrown.com website (www.claimingcrown.com), and nominations are now being accepted by Claiming Crown, Ltd. The 13th renewal of the Claiming Crown will be held on December 3, 2011 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans.

The 2011 Claiming Crown will consist of six stakes races with starter allowance conditions for horses that have started for a claiming price since January 1, 2010 in a race restricted to Thoroughbreds at a recognized North American racetrack. Each race is associated with a specific claiming level, and to be eligible for that event, a horse must have started at the associated claiming level or lower at least once since January 1, 2010.

The 2011 Claiming Crown races will be (associated claiming level in parenthesis):

• $50,000 Iron Horse: for three-year-olds and up going 8.5 furlongs on dirt ($7,500)
• $50,000 Express: for three-year-olds and up going 6.0 furlongs on dirt ($7,500)
• $75,000 Glass Slipper: for three-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, going 6.0 furlongs on the dirt ($16,000)
• $75,000 Rapid Transit: for three-year-olds and up going 6.0 furlongs on the dirt ($16,000)
• $100,000 Emerald: for three-year-olds and up going 8.5 furlongs on the turf ($25,000)
• $150,000 Jewel: for three-year-olds and up going 9.0 furlongs on the dirt ($35,000)

Regular ($100) and open ($250) nominations for the 2011 Claiming Crown close on Friday, August 26, while $500 nominations close on Friday, October 21. Also on October 21, nominators must identify the horse(s) they made eligible through any open nominations. Supplemental nominations (5 percent of the race’s purse) will be accepted through Friday, November 18.

Patterned after the Breeders’ Cup, Claiming Crown was designed to reward Thoroughbred racing’s “blue-collar” horses and offer races at varying distances on both dirt and turf. This will mark the first time Fair Grounds has hosted the event, which debuted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1999. Canterbury has hosted 10 of the first 12 renewals of the event. The Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 2002 and at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky in 2007.

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 www.claimingcrown.com.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 139th Thoroughbred Racing Season runs through March 27, 2011, highlighted by the 98th running of the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 26. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

TOBA, based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to "improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as a founding member.

The National HBPA (www.nationalhbpa.com), based in Lexington, Kentucky, is the largest racing horsemen’s representative association in North America, with 30 affiliate organizations and over 30,000 member horsemen.  Big Dee’s Tack & Vet Supplies, Equineline.com, and Horseman Labor Solutions are proud corporate partners of the National HBPA, and TVG is the official television partner of the National HBPA.

For more information, contact Jason Boulet, Racing Secretary, Fair Grounds Race Course at (504) 948-1246 or Jason.Boulet@fgno.com.

Fair Grounds to Host Claiming Crown for First Time in 2011

December 20, 2010 -- Lexington, KY -- Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans, Louisiana will host the 13th running of the Claiming Crown on Saturday, December 3, 2011. Patterned after the Breeders’ Cup, Claiming Crown was designed to reward Thoroughbred racing’s “blue-collar” horses and will offer races at varying distances on both dirt and turf.

“Fair Grounds is proud to bring the Claiming Crown to New Orleans,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing for Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots. “One of our stated goals has been to host top end national events at our racetrack, and the Claiming Crown certainly fits very well.  We look forward to teaming with TOBA, the National HBPA and our local HBPA as we try to make the 2011 Claiming Crown a record-setting event.”

“The Louisiana HBPA is happy the National HBPA and TOBA are bringing the Claiming Crown to Louisiana.  We feel the Fair Grounds is a great choice to host this prestigious event.  Claiming Crown rewards the horses that are the backbone of racing,” stated Louisiana HBPA President Larry Robideaux, Jr.

This will mark the first time Fair Grounds has hosted the event, which debuted at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota in 1999. Canterbury has hosted 10 of the first 12 renewals of the event. The Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in Bensalem, Pennsylvania in 2002 and at Ellis Park in Henderson, Kentucky in 2007.

Further details on the event’s race lineup, purse structure, nomination and entry deadline schedule, and eligibility dates will be released soon.

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 www.claimingcrown.com.

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 10 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 139th Thoroughbred Racing Season runs through March 27, 2011, highlighted by the 98th running of the Grade II, $1 million Louisiana Derby on March 26. Information about Fair Grounds can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.

TOBA, based in Lexington, Kentucky, was formed in 1961 and is a national trade organization of Thoroughbred owners and breeders. TOBA's mission is to "improve the economics, integrity and pleasure of the sport on behalf of Thoroughbred owners and breeders." Projects managed by TOBA include the American Graded Stakes Committee, The Racing Game, Sales Integrity Program and Claiming Crown. TOBA is the owner of The Blood-Horse Inc., and is represented on the Board of Directors of the National Thoroughbred