Claiming Crown moves to Fair Grounds, will be run in December

Fair Grounds in New Orleans will host the 2011 Claiming Crown, the track announced in a press release late Monday afternoon.

The move to Fair Grounds from Canterbury Park in Minnesota means the Claiming Crown, a series of starter-allowance races in various categories, will be held for the first time during the winter. The event is scheduled for Dec. 3.

Fair Grounds will be the fourth venue to play host to the event, which exists through a partnership between the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders’ Association. Canterbury - where Fair Grounds vice president and general manager for racing Eric Halstrom used to work - has served as the venue during 10 of the Claiming Crown’s 12-year existence. Philadelphia Park, now Parx Racing, hosted the Claiming Crown in 2002, Ellis Park in 2007.