November 4, 2014 — The nomination deadline for horses for the eight Claiming Crown races is November 8, 2014, and the supplemental horse nomination deadline is December 3, 2014. The regular nomination fee is $100 and the supplemental nomination fee is 5% of the purse. The 2014 edition of the Claiming Crown races will be run on December 6, 2014, opening day of Gulfstream Park’s Championship Meeting. Nomination forms with the $100 nomination fee should be sent to either Claiming Crown Limited, P.O. Box 910668, Lexington, KY 40591-0668 [E-mail andys@toba.org, Fax (859) 276-2462] or Michael Costanzo, Gulfstream Park, 901 South Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009 [Phone (954) 457-6260, Fax (954) 457-6357, E-mail michael.costanzo@gulfstreampark.com].
Total purse money for the eight Claiming Crown races is $1 million with the Claiming Crown Jewel having a purse of $200,000 for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on Gulfstream’s main track for horses that have started for a claiming price of $35,000 or less since January 1, 2013. New for 2014 is the“Canterbury,” a five-furlong turf sprint for horses that have been entered to be claimed for $25,000 or less since January 1, 2013. Also, the “Glass Slipper”this year is a one-turn mile for fillies and mares that have been entered to be claimed for $12,500. Both the Canterbury and the Glass Slipper have a purse of $110,000. Nomination forms, the summary of the eight individual race conditions and the summary of conditions can be found on the Claiming Crown’s web site, www.claimingcrown.com.
According to Gulfstream Park’s CEO Tim Ritvo,“There’s a great deal of anticipation from horsemen and fans surrounding this year’s Claiming Crown. The Claiming Crown will not only kick off our 2014-15 Championship Meet, but it will be our first day of live racing at Gulfstream Park in two months. It will be an electric atmosphere. We believe this Claiming Crown, the third held at Gulfstream Park, will be the best.”
Phil Hanrahan, the CEO of the National HBPA Inc., said “Claiming Crown 2014 promises to be a great day for owners and trainers, handicappers and fans of racing all over the United States.We hope to have at least 30 nominations per race and full competitive fields on race day.” Hanrahan added, “We are pleased that the Crowne Plaza Hollywood Beach Hotel; the Diplomat Hollywood Beach; the Hampton Inn, Hallandale-Aventura; the Hollywood Beach Marriott and Turnberry Isle Resort will be offering the Gulfstream Horsemen’s Rate for lodging during Claiming Crown weekend. Information on these rates can be found on the Claiming Crown’s website.”