Filly and Mare Sprint Added to Nov. 14 Claiming Crown

The Claiming Crown, back Nov. 14 at Churchill Downs for the third straight year and fourth time in five, is adding a ninth race to bring the event's total purses to $1.2 million, plus additional money for Kentucky-bred starters. The $100,000 Claiming Crown Empress will be for filly and mare sprinters that have raced for a $16,000 claiming price or less in 2025-26. The distance is 6 furlongs.

A filly-and-mare sprint likewise has been incorporated into Colonial Downs' Claiming Crown Showcase Day, which is returning to the Virginia track for the second year Aug. 22.

The Claiming Crown was created in 1999 by the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to give claiming horses their own championship-style event and day in the spotlight. The Claiming Crown races are conducted under starter-allowance conditions, with race specifications requiring participants to have competed for a certain claiming price or cheaper within a designated time period.

Colonial Downs' Claiming Crown Showcase races are run as starter handicaps, requiring horses to be nominated in order to be weighted. The deadline to nominate horses at no charge is Aug. 5, with the showcase races also free to enter and start. Purses range from $50,000 to $100,000 for the Claiming Crown Showcase races at Colonial, the track in New Kent, Va., that is owned by Churchill Downs Inc. 

The top two finishers in each of the Claiming Crown Showcase qualifiers receive an automatic entry into the corresponding race at Churchill Downs. Showcase winners will get a $2,000 travel stipend from the Virginia HBPA if they run back in the Nov. 14 Claiming Crown. The showcase day is presented in partnership with the National HBPA, TOBA, the Virginia HBPA and Colonial Downs.

"The Claiming Crown has always been about celebrating the backbone of Thoroughbred racing: the hard-working claiming horses, their owners, trainers and the people who care for them every day, " National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback said. "Churchill Downs and the Kentucky HBPA are terrific hosts and partners that have embraced having the event, just as Colonial Downs and the Virginia HBPA have embraced having a day of qualifiers as a prelude.

"This year, we are excited to expand both events by adding a ninth race. The Empress demonstrates our commitment to growing the Claiming Crown and creating more opportunities for horsemen and women. Because the Claiming Crown races generally overfill, we encourage owners and trainers to use Colonial Downs' Claiming Crown Showcase to try to secure their spot at Churchill Downs while running for a very nice purse in its own right."

Last year, Next Girl  (Glass Slipper) and Curlin's Malibu  (Iron Horse) swept their Colonial and Churchill Downs races. Echo Lane  finished third in Virginia, but then repeated as the Claiming Crown Emerald winner.

The Nov. 14 Claiming Crown has a different entry procedure from Colonial's showcase. The first deadline to request Claiming Crown eligibility for horses is Oct. 16 for a fee of $250 per horse per event. Entries will be taken for the 28th Claiming Crown Nov. 7.

The Claiming Crown last offered a ninth race in 2021 at Gulfstream Park. But the enthusiasm for the event overall encouraged the Kentucky HBPA and Churchill Downs to bring back the filly and mare sprint, with the host track and its horsemen ultimately determining what races are run because they fund the purses. Horses came from 15 racing jurisdictions and 30 racetracks last year, reflecting 110 trainers and 54 jockeys in the Claiming Crown entries.

The average field size for last year's 11-race card overall was 10.5 horses, with the Claiming Crown races averaging 11.75 starters. Churchill reported total handle of $12.8 million, almost 25% more than the $10.3 million in 2024 and the largest since $14.6 million in 2020 when there were nine Claiming Crown races at Gulfstream Park.

The TwinSpires Claiming Crown NHC Qualifier online handicapping tournament also returns for the second year. Based on the Claiming Crown races, the live-money competition will award at least two seats to the 2027 National Horseplayers Championship March 5-7 in Las Vegas.