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 Fields Set for 11th Annual Claiming Crown at Canterbury Park July 23, 2009 -- Shakopee, MN -- Sixty-two of the best claiming horses in the country were entered yesterday for Saturday’s 11th running of the Claiming Crown at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, Minnesota. Claiming Crown features seven races, with purses ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 and is open to horses that have started at least once in 2008-09 for claiming prices ranging from $7,500 to $35,000. The 62 entered horses have, collectively, made their most recent starts at racetracks in 12 different U.S. states from coast to coast. The Claiming Crown, offering a total of $600,000 in purse money, is a partnership of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA). The day’s featured event is race nine, the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel, a mile and one-eighth event on the main track for horses who have started for $35,000 or less in 2007-08. The favorite at 2-1 in the field of six is the 2008 National HBPA Claimer of the Year Antrim County. Last year, Antrim County shipped to Canterbury Park to win the $50,000 Claiming Crown Iron Horse, which is restricted to horses who have raced for $7,500 or less. This year, the now six-year-old is taking on bigger game in the Jewel and, with a win on Saturday, he would become the first horse in Claiming Crown history to win Claiming Crown races in two different divisions. Minnesota racing fans will also be excited by the presence of jockey Russell Baze, the world’s winningest rider with 10,602 career victories (through July 22). Baze will travel from his Northern California base to ride horses in five Claiming Crown races on Saturday. TVG will provide exclusive live coverage with hosts Matt Carothers and Ken Rudulph anchoring from Canterbury Park. The Claiming Crown events will fill races 3-9 on Saturday’s 11-race card, which also features the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes. Post time for the first race is 1:30 p.m. Central time, with the first Claiming Crown race expected to go off at about 2:30 p.m. (CT). Founded in 1940 on the philosophy of “horsemen helping horsemen” the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (NHBPA) has developed into the largest organization representing horsemen's interests in North America. Over 40,000 members strong, the NHBPA protects the rights of the representative majorities of licensed racehorse owners and trainers in over 30 affiliate HBPA offices across the U.S. and Canada. 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 additional information please contact Claiming Crown Coordinator Nat Wess at 800-340-6361 or 952-496-6411 or nwess@canterburypark.com. Click Here to Return to News Page
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