Claiming Crown comes to Churchill on Saturday
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fields were drawn Wednesday for the 24th annual Claiming Crown, the eight-race series that make up the bulk of an 11-race Saturday program at Churchill Downs.
The Claiming Crown highlight is the $175,000 Jewel, the richest race of the day. Purses for the others range from $150,000 down to $100,000, with all of them run under starter-allowance conditions. Kentucky-bred bonuses are in addition to listed purses.
The Claiming Crown celebrates the blue-collar horses that populate day-to-day racing programs across North America. It was first run in 1999 at Canterbury Park and has been held the last 10 years at Gulfstream Park.
“Any program that can help the everyday horseman filling those cards and generating betting handle for the game, anything that can be thrown our way is appreciated,” said trainer Keith Desormeaux, who has Candy Raid as a top contender for the $150,000 Tiara, one of three Claiming Crown races scheduled for turf.
Unlike in prior years, the Claiming Crown events are not being considered as stakes so as to permit Lasix treatment. Lasix is not allowed for any stakes in Kentucky.
With the Claiming Crown being held Saturday, Churchill will host three stakes Sunday, led by the Grade 3 River City for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.
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