The deadline for regular and open nominations to the 2011 Claiming Crown at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots is Aug. 26, organizers of the event said Aug. 11.
Regular nominations are $100 per horse and open nominations $250 per horse. After Aug 26, the cost to nominate increases to $500, with a deadline of Oct. 21.
Under the open nomination process, owners don’t have to identify the horse or the race in the series. The horse must be identified, however, by Oct. 21.
Supplemental nominations at 5% of the purse will be accepted through Nov. 18.
The Claiming Crown will be held Dec. 3. Organizers said TwinSpires.com will host a handicapping contest in conjunction with the event; two spots in the Daily Racing Form/NTRA National Handicapping Championship will be up for grabs.
There will be six Claiming Crown races this year. They all carry starter allowance conditions for horses that haven’t won for a specific claiming price within a certain period of time:
The Iron Horse, $50,000, for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles that have started for a claiming price of $7,500.
The Express, $50,000, for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs (starter $7,500)
The Glass Slipper, $75,000, for 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, at six furlongs (starter $16,000)
The Rapid Transit, $75,000, for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs (starter $16,000)
The Emerald, $100,000, for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf (starter $25,000)
The Jewel, $150,000, for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles (starter $35,000)