The deadline for late nominations to the 2012 Triple Crown is March 24.
A payment of $6,000 must accompany each nomination during the late period, which will close on Saturday at 11:59 p.m. ((EDT). The three-race series consists of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 5, the Preakness (gr. I) May 19, and the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 9.
This year’s early nomination period, which required a $600 fee per nominee, closed on Jan. 21 with 397 horses made eligible.
The total of 398 nominees in the early nomination phase, up from 364 horses nominated for the series during the same period in 2011. The 2012 early total was the largest since 2009, when the early period yielded 412 nominees.
All nominations made by traditional mail during the late nomination phase must be postmarked on or before March 24. Triple Crown nominations can also be made online at www.TheTripleCrown.com, or via telephone with a designated representative from one of the three Triple Crown host tracks. Online and telephone nominations must be made prior to the 11:59 p.m. deadline.
Triple Crown nomination contacts at the host tracks are:
Churchill Downs: Senior Vice President of Racing Don Richardson (DonnieR@KyDerby.com) and Racing Secretary Ben Huffman (BenH@KyDerby.com). The telephone number for nominations at Churchill Downs Racing is (502) 638-3825 and its fax number is (502) 638-3915;
Pimlico: Racing Secretary/Director of Racing Georgeanne Hale (GHale@MarylandRacing.com) and Stakes Coordinator Coley Blind (CBlind@MarylandRacing.com);
Belmont Park: Vice President and Director of Racing P.J. Campo (PCampo@NYRAInc.com).
