Claiming Crown

The Claiming Crown, inaugurated in 1999, is a series of once seven but now eight races run under starter allowance conditions, with purses usually ranging from $50,000 to $200,000. Drew Couto, former president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and Scott Savin, formerly with the National HBPA, together launched this event. It will have its 19th running in 2017 at Gulfstream Park.

It is seen as a "blue collar” Breeders' Cup series for claiming horses. Any claiming horse owner can participate subject to stipulated conditions.

The Claiming Crown, held under the auspices of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the TOBA (Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association), has for much of its existence been run at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. The track last held the event in 2008. In 2002, the Claiming Crown was held at Philadelphia Park Racetrack. In 2007, it took place at Ellis Park Racecourse in Henderson, Kentucky.

The Claiming Crown returned to Canterbury Park on August 2, 2008 with new conditions meant to entice more horses to participate. Until 2007, the cut-off for which a horse needed to have run for a certain claiming price to qualify was almost a year in advance of the Claiming Crown series. In 2008, the conditions for entry were similar to those of starter allowance races held at most tracks around the country.

In 2008, the 10th running of the Claiming Crown, the races were for horses that have started for $7,500 to $35,000 in 2007 and 2008. The new conditions shortened the cut-off for eligibility by almost seven months.

Since its inception, the Claiming Crown has been Canterbury Park’s biggest day of racing. At Ellis Park, it set a record for total handle.

On December 3, 2011, the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, Louisiana hosted the 13th running of the Claiming Crown.

For its 14th running on December 1, 2012, the Claiming Crown was held at Gulfstream Park. To honor these horses, which the industry calls the "backbone of racing", Gulfstream raised the purses of each event to a total of $850,000. The "Crown" took place on Gulfstream's Opening Day. In addition to the six Claiming Crown races conducted at the 2011 event, the Tiara for fillies and mares on the turf returned this year.

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