(Edited press release)
Ellis Park announced a new partnership with local sponsor Old National Bank for the ninth renewal of the Claiming Crown.
Bob Jones, president and chief executive officer of Old National Bank and Ron Geary, owner and president of Ellis Park, signed paperwork June 6 to seal the deal.
“We look for commitment to the Tri-state area, and we found it in Ellis Park,” said Jones.
The title sponsorship renames this year’s Claiming Crown, the Old National Bank Claiming Crown. The sponsorship only affects this year’s races as the Claiming Crown returns to Canterbury Park in Minnesota in 2008. Old National Bank will also present the trophy for the $150,000 Claiming Crown Jewel.
The Claiming Crown consists of seven races of varying conditions for claiming horses totaling $600,000 in purses.
“We are so excited to host the ninth annual Claiming Crown, and thrilled to have Old National as a sponsor at this level,” said Geary.
The Old National Bank Claiming Crown will be run at Ellis Park Aug. 4.