Claiming Crown Sat @ Gulfstream

The Claiming Crown comes to Gulfstream Park for the south Florida oval's season opener Dec. 1, and local horsemen have responded enthusiastically with 97 horses entered for for the seven-race series worth a total of $850,000 in purses.

"We're ecstatic to play host to the 14th running of the Claiming Crown on our opening day," Gulfstream President Tim Ritvo remarked as the track embarks on a 90-day meet. "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. I think this is a great opportunity for Gulfstream to help showcase these Thoroughbreds. It's also a great way to kick off what we believe will be a memorable winter meeting."

The Claiming Crown, established in 1999 as a means of rewarding racing's "blue collar workers," has been hosted at several venues over the years while often calling Canterbury Park home. The Thoroughbred Owners And Breeders Association and Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association co-founded the event.

Horse Racing Radio Network will provide live coverage of the Claiming Crown from 2-5:30 p.m. The coverage is available on Sirius channel 93 and via live streaming provided on the HRRN website.

Gulfstream, which has never had it before, will be the Claiming Crown's third venue in three years, following Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots last year and Canterbury, which hosted from 2008-10. Philadelphia Park, now Parx Racing, and Ellis Park have also entertained the event, but Gulfstream will be the highest profile track to hold it. And based on the number of entries, the Claiming Crown will have its biggest year
yet in 2012.

Gulfstream boasts a strong horse population from which to draw, noted Dan Metzger, president of TOBA.

"You have the South Florida trainers that are there year-round and you also have the Eastern trainers, the New York-based trainers and the Midwest-based trainers who go to Gulfstream for the winter. And you also have Tampa Bay Downs," he said in a press release.

"To hold it on opening day puts it into a spotlight it's never been in before," Metzger went on.

The move to Gulfstream Park this season has resulted in purse increases, as well as a return to seven races from five a year ago.

The $200,000 Jewel, which attracted a field of 12, will anchor the program. Horses that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower since Jan. 1, 2011 will clash at 1 1/8 miles in the Jewel.


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ShopClaiming Crown Gets Big Gulfstream Welcome
By Jack Shinar
Updated: Friday, November 30, 2012 10:10 AM
Posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 7:11 PM
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Photo: Coglianese PhotosKing David, who won the Jamaica Handicap on October 6, is the probable favorite in the Emerald.The Claiming Crown comes to Gulfstream Park for the south Florida oval's season opener Dec. 1, and local horsemen have responded enthusiastically with 97 horses entered for for the seven-race series worth a total of $850,000 in purses.

"We're ecstatic to play host to the 14th running of the Claiming Crown on our opening day," Gulfstream President Tim Ritvo remarked as the track embarks on a 90-day meet. "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. I think this is a great opportunity for Gulfstream to help showcase these Thoroughbreds. It's also a great way to kick off what we believe will be a memorable winter meeting."

The Claiming Crown, established in 1999 as a means of rewarding racing's "blue collar workers," has been hosted at several venues over the years while often calling Canterbury Park home. The Thoroughbred Owners And Breeders Association and Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association co-founded the event.

Horse Racing Radio Network will provide live coverage of the Claiming Crown from 2-5:30 p.m. The coverage is available on Sirius channel 93 and via live streaming provided on the HRRN website.

Gulfstream, which has never had it before, will be the Claiming Crown's third venue in three years, following Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots last year and Canterbury, which hosted from 2008-10. Philadelphia Park, now Parx Racing, and Ellis Park have also entertained the event, but Gulfstream will be the highest profile track to hold it. And based on the number of entries, the Claiming Crown will have its biggest year yet in 2012.

Gulfstream boasts a strong horse population from which to draw, noted Dan Metzger, president of TOBA.

"You have the South Florida trainers that are there year-round and you also have the Eastern trainers, the New York-based trainers and the Midwest-based trainers who go to Gulfstream for the winter. And you also have Tampa Bay Downs," he said in a press release.

"To hold it on opening day puts it into a spotlight it's never been in before," Metzger went on.

The move to Gulfstream Park this season has resulted in purse increases, as well as a return to seven races from five a year ago.

The $200,000 Jewel, which attracted a field of 12, will anchor the program. Horses that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or lower since Jan. 1, 2011 will clash at 1 1/8 miles in the Jewel.

The Claiming Crown provides lower-priced horses a chance to compete as well. The $100,000 Iron Horse (1 1/16 miles) and $100,000 Express (6 furlongs) will be open to horses that have started for a claiming price of $7,500 or lower. Horses that have raced for a $16,000 claiming tag or lower are eligible for a pair of $100,000 seven-furlong stakes, the Glass Slipper (fillies and mares) and the $100,000 Rapid Transit. A pair of $125,000 1 1/16-mile turf races, the Tiara (fillies and mares) and the Emerald, are open to horses that carried claiming prices of $25,000 or lower.

Read more on BloodHorse.com: www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/74771/claiming-crown-gets-big-gulfstream-welcome#ixzz2Dk71Mrxu