Hamelback: Churchill Downs will host 2022 Claiming Crown

By HRN Staff
Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Churchill Downs will host the 2022 Claiming Crown during its November meet, Eric Hamelback, CEO of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said Saturday.

Hamelback broke the news during the Equine Forum on the Horse Racing Radio Network. He added that the plan is for the event to be hosted the following fall at Fair Grounds.

The National HBPA and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association partner to put on the Claiming Crown, which is open to all claimer horses. The event was first conducted in 1999 at Canterbury Park.

Gulfstream Park has hosted the Claiming Crown each year since 2012. The 2021 card featured nine races and attracted a betting handle of $11.45 million.

Churchill Downs has never hosted the Claiming Crown. Hamelback said the proposed date for the card is Nov. 12, which would place it one week  after the 2022 Breeders’ Cup slated for Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland.

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