Classics shmassics. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum this Sat...

[Barnfairy]

It's time once again for the Claiming Crown (http://www.claimingcrown.com/index2.htm), a special seven race event held specifically for claimers, hosted this year by Ellis Park (http://www.ellisparkracing.com/liveRacing/?p=claimingCrown).

I'll be rooting for Hoodoo Peak (http://www.pedigreequery.com/hoodoo+peak) in my favorite division, the Claiming Crown Iron Horse Stakes (a mile on the dirt for horses who ran in races for a claiming price of $7500 or less.) The nine year old gelding took fourth in the 2005 Iron Horse.

Here are the entries for the full card (Claiming Crown starts with race 4): August 4 entries at Ellis Park (http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbRaceEntriesDisplay.cfm?TRK=ELP&CY=USA&DATE=08/04/2007&STYLE=EQB)

[Texarkana]

I was actually debating heading up there for this, so maybe I'll be able to give everyone a first hand account come Sunday.

Looking at the entries a little more closely, it caught my eye that former MD Champion Turf horse One Eyed Joker is running in the Emerald...

[miss_critic]

I heard this is being televised by HRTV and TVG. Does anybody know when it starts (to record it)?

[Glimmerglass]

I heard this is being televised by HRTV and TVG. Does anybody know when it starts (to record it)?

TVG will carry it - Aug 4th (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070726/BUSINESS/70726042)

[Barnfairy]

*sigh.* No TVG up here in New Hampshire. (God forbid there be televised gambling in this state.)

This article from brisnet provides some info on a few of the runners: Claiming Crown contenders line-up at the Pea Patch (http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/article.cgi?id=8675)

(BTW, "Pea Patch" refers to the soybean crop which is planted in the infield at Ellis Park, considered by some to be a derogatory nickname, but I think it could be considered endearing as long as it is not meant to imply a lack of class. In any case, a fitting location for the Claiming Crown IMO.)

[Texarkana]

*sigh.* No TVG up here in New Hampshire. (God forbid there be televised gambling in this state.)



I feel your pain...

That's why I have to drive the 150 miles one way to Ellis if I want to get my racing fix. ;)

[Glimmerglass]

That's why I have to drive the 150 miles one way to Ellis if I want to get my racing fix. ;)

About 40 minutes on a METRA commuter rail line and it dropps me off at the "front door" (http://www.arlingtonpark.com/visit_the_track/plan_your_visit/maps_and_directions/) of my nearest track

Infact I was at the track the Friday before last and at 3:30 pm there were tons of people: at worst it was just shy of 20,000 but likely near the 21k mark. Which is impressive when the races were all allowances and claiming. Since last year's summer of hell with the breakdowns and the new poly track the daily numbers of fans (and also tons of families from Arlington and other suburbs) is always over 14,000 on the weekdays.

Worth putting in a plug for the place: it is a very clean, roomy, full-service, low cost, and easy accessed race track. You can get exceptionally close to the horses being saddled, in the post parade, and winners circle. Better food, snacks and drinks then I've found anywhere else. Plenty of windows and self-betting machines to be found. Did I mention its clean? From the grounds to the parking lot to the washrooms all are kept as tidy as you'd find a corporate office complex. Saratoga as much as I love the old place tends to classify trash and litter as "character" :)

Anyhow regarding TVG it does provide great access to races but after a while it becomes all so bland. It is nothing like say ESPN and their coverage with the buildup of races and post race analysis. Lets face it - they are provding a constant betting channel so every 3 minutes there is a race to be aired somewhere in the US. No real recognition if a horse rises to an occasion and puts in the effort of a lifetime as it is off to Monmouth or DelMar ...

Arlington used to air nightly a program on CLTV [ChicagoLand TV] which was a 1/2 hour condensed bit of coverage from that day's racing. It was done pretty well with recognition of the jocks and horses when they did do a good job.

[witherbee]

I thought any state could get TBG - Dish and I think Direct TV carry it. I didn't think a state could block it... Sorry to hear that because I love it!

[Texarkana]

Glimmer, I have to say I'm jealous. I've never been to Arlington but have always wanted to go. Although I don't exactly have the urge to negotiate Chicago traffic!

When it comes to racing, I really, really miss living in the mid-atlantic area. I could be at 3 different tracks in under an hour, and countless others driving just another hour further. Heck, there were days when I worked for MGR that it wasn't uncommon for me to be at two or three different tracks in one day!

A year ago if you told me I'd consider driving 150 miles one way to watch a bunch of claimers run, I would have said you're out of your mind!

[miss_critic]

What time does it start?

[Barnfairy]

What time does it start?Estimated local post time for the fourth race at Ellis (which is the first race of the Claiming Crown) is 2:04, as per the equibase entries link I provided in the original post. Don't forget to adjust to your particular time zone.

[Glimmerglass]

DRF 8-2-07 "Claming Crown in fitting location" (http://www.drf.com/news/article/87227.html)

Semi Lost, who will start from post 4 under Jesus Castanon, and Soupy, who will break from post 6 with Victor Lebron aboard. Both horses have flown under the radar back home, but that's pretty much the point of the Claiming Crown: to pay tribute to the blue-collar ethos of everyday runners.

[miss_critic]

Thank you Barnfairy :)
I think this Claiming Crown is a wonderful idea.

[Laurierace]

I went when they held in at Philly Park, it was a wonderful event. They really went above and beyond to make it a first class experience. I have mixed emotions about it being ran somewhere other than Canterbury however. Granted I never would have gone if it was there because its just way too far, but it seems to me that it was their idea and they sort of own it. If some other track wants to offer something similiar or even something equal, that's fine, but they could just have it both places. The more money for the claimers the better imo.

[Glimmerglass]

As posted on the "Beloved Old Warriors" thread, 8-yr old Golden Hare the horse once long ago part of singer Toby Keith's stable but claimed by Scott Blasi, chief assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen took the $50,000 Claiming Crown Express (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070805/SPORTS08/708050526/1002/SPORTS).

With the 7th win in 2007, per the Courier Journal, that ties him for 2nd in the US for horse with the most this year.

Making his record in the last 13 starts to 12-1-0., he lost by a nose in May. However his lifetime record is 16-7-3 in 43 career starts.

Over all the [i]Daily Racing Form said had this in their article on the races:

Aug 4, 2007 "Ellis Park's first Claiming Crown a success" (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=2961630)

Ron Geary, the first-year owner of Ellis, was all over the place Saturday, insuring as he could that things went smoothly. By virtually all accounts, they did, as the long mutuels and concessions lines in evidence for the July 11 meet opener were mostly non-existent Saturday.

"I am totally ecstatic," said Geary. "We've been working on this for a year. It was great racing, with photo finishes, competitive races, longshots winning, pretty much everything you could ask for. Everywhere I went, from the Sky Theatre to the picnic area to the clubhouse, everybody said they were having a ball. The heat may have kept a few people from coming out today, but all in all, this is what it's all about."

The official attendance was 6,611, down from the 8,000 that Geary had hoped for. But although ontrack and all-sources handle were not immediately available, going into the 12th and last race, the all-sources figures appeared to be on a par to break both the all-time records for Ellis ($5.3 million) and the Claiming Crown (just over $4 million).

[Texarkana]

I didn't make it up to Ellis Saturday, but I was looking over the charts yesterday and saw Hoodoo Peak stopped and was vanned off. Anyone have any updates?

One Eyed Joker won the Emerald! Woohoo... go MD-breds! Once a champion, always a champion.

[Glimmerglass]

As posted on the "Beloved Old Warriors" thread, 8-yr old Golden Hare the horse once long ago part of singer Toby Keith's stable but claimed by Scott Blasi, chief assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen [i.e., Curlin] took the $50,000 Claiming Crown Express.

With the 7th win in 2007, per the Courier Journal, that ties him for 2nd in the US for horse with the most this year.

Making his record in the last 13 starts to 12-1-0., he lost by a nose in May. However his lifetime record is 16-7-3 in 43 career starts.

Golden Hare is set to go off in the 5th race at Calder (http://drf.com/entries/11/eCRC11.html?rn=632737#5) today :) 7 furlongs on the dirt for a claiming purse of $6,250. Grinders making this sport what it is.

[Barnfairy]

Golden Hare is set to go off in the 5th race at Calder (http://drf.com/entries/11/eCRC11.html?rn=632737#5) today :uhoh: Ermmm...not quite. That was the mare, Golden Hair (http://www.pedigreequery.com/golden+hair5) :o, who took second in the 5th at CRC today, bringing home a whopping $1870. Ka-ching.

[Glimmerglass]

:uhoh: Ermmm...not quite. That was the mare, Golden Hair (http://www.pedigreequery.com/golden+hair5) :o, who took second in the 5th at CRC today, bringing home a whopping $1870. Ka-ching.

Yep, yep - I stand very much corrected! SHE went off today as the favorite (finished 2nd) and I kept wondering why he was in a race that was for fillies and mares :D

Now we know why the JC doesn't like "same" names

[Barnfairy]

... and I kept wondering why he was in a race that was for fillies and mares...
I'm not sure he would ever be eligible for that, poor fella, even if he ran out of conditions.....:lol:

[Glimmerglass]

Ok, after the prior posting's embarassing faux pau with Golden HARE not being Golden Hair which reminds me ... wasn't that a song (http://youtube.com/watch?v=rQ3ax8NWNGA) that sounded like an Eagles tune but was actually by the band America ..

I digress, we have the correct hard working claimer running again! And unlike his similar sounding female counterpart who ran for $6,250 - our gelding hero will run for $7,000.

Entries Race 1: Retama Park (TX) at 5 1/2 Furlongs (http://drf.com/entries/09/eRET09.html?rn=761184#1): Golden Hare trained by Steve Asmussen ;)

[Barnfairy]

Well good luck to Golden Hare tomorrow.

America, ugh. It always irritated me that he made that poor unnamed horse traipse through the desert amongst the "rocks and things" where "the heat was hot" for nine days.

[Glimmerglass]

Well good luck to Golden Hare tomorrow.

Actually it's tonight - November 9th - or rather early this evening: 6:45 pm CST

I *believe* his is the longest win streak in 2007 in the US.

[Barnfairy]

Actually it's tonight - November 9th - or rather early this evening: 6:45 pm CST
:uhoh:

Woops, hel-lo. 'Hazards of working alone. At least I know today is Friday.

I can't look at his PPs without paying -- does he have more wins going than Peppers Pride?

[Glimmerglass]

I can't look at his PPs without paying -- does he have more wins going than Peppers Pride?

actually today's equidaily has Golden Hare's PP (http://equidaily.com/images/2007/ghare2.jpg); and while doing wonderfully this year he hasn't been unbeaten.

In 2007 he is 14 starts 11-3-1; he too 2nd place in Sep twice (Sep 6 and Sep 17)

While nothing compared to the days of old with rugged schedules, still his has been a rather vigorous racing calendar as evidenced by running three times in October alone.

[Norcrest]

[QUOTE=Glimmerglass;2793392
In 2007 he is 14 starts 11-3-1; he too 2nd place in Sep twice (Sep 6 and Sep 17)

While nothing compared to the days of old with rugged schedules, still his has been a rather vigorous racing calendar as evidenced by running three times in October alone.[/QUOTE]


Doesnt that add up to 15 starts? But I do love to see horses that can run well and often and I bet he enjoys it too

[Barnfairy]

The streak is still alive!

http://www.equibase.com/static/chart/pdf/RET110907USA1.pdf

[Glimmerglass]

He takes the win easily in a final time of 1:01.65 ...

calracing.com/replays (http://calracing.com/replays.php) has the action! The 'hare' can out run his claimer competition with ease.

Edited to add: correction to my prior posting his record (before today) was he is 14 starts 11-3-0; now 15 12-3-0

[Glimmerglass]

From the Daily Racing Form of Nov 10, 2007 (http://www.drf.com/news/article/90257.html)

Golden Hare won his 12th race of 2007 on Friday night to become the winningest horse so far this year in North America.

Golden Hare cruised to a 2 3/4-length win as the 1-5 favorite in a $5,000 starter allowance at Retama Park near San Antonio. Going into the 5 1/2-furlong race he had been tied with Princess Composer with 11 wins this year. Friday's race was Golden Hare's 15th of 2007 and his fourth straight win. He scored his biggest victory of the season in the $50,000 Claiming Crown Express at Ellis Park in July. He is owned by Scott Blasi Racing Stable and is trained by Steve Asmussen.

Blasi claimed Golden Hare for $3,500 at Remington Park in August 2006. He finished second by a half-length that day and has since won 17 races. Overall, he has a career record of 21 wins from 50 starts and earnings of $370,389.

Golden Hare is an 8-year-old gelding by Gilded Time. He is out of the Storm Cat mare Bugs Rabbit, making him a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Kettleoneup.

[miss_critic]

Scott Blasi is Asmussen's assistant, right? So he is an owner too? I did not know that.

Anybody remember Storm in May and Imawildandcrazyguy? They both finished second in their stakes races at Calder today.


Sedgefield and SlewsTizzy race tomorrow.

[Glimmerglass]

From the Daily Racing Form from 12-7-07:

Golden Hare, who leads all horses in wins in North America in 2007, picked up his 13th victory of the year Thursday night [Dec 6] at Sam Houston Race Park. The win came in a $5,000 starter allowance at five furlongs on turf, and he led throughout for a 4 1/2-length victory under Jose Figueroa.

Just like the Energizer Bunny! :D

[Barnfairy]

Oh shoot. I think they show races from Sam Houston on TVG now. I meant to watch that.

Back to the original topic: The Claiming Crown will go back to Canterbury next year and the conditions have changed a little bit. from The Blood-Horse: New Conditions for Claiming Crown (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=42374)

“We’re going to change the eligibility date system,” said Nat Wess, the Claiming Crown coordinator. “It’s in response to so many horsemen saying, ‘If you had (the eligibility date) one month sooner, I would have had a great horse for you.’ ”

Next year’s races will be for horses that have started for a specific claiming price (it traditionally runs from $7,500 to $35,000) in 2007-08. Those conditions, Wess said, will add “six or seven months” of eligibility for Claiming Crown races.

[Glimmerglass]

The energizer bunny has nothing on Golden Hare! Start number 17 in 2007

Golden Hare seeks 14th win of year
Daily Racing Form Dec 28, 2007 (http://www.drf.com/news/article/91181.html)

The 11 fillies and mares entered in the featured ninth race on Friday at Fair Grounds have combined to win 13 races during the 2007. That's if you count the two wins from Limitless, who was entered main-track-only in the 5 1/2-furlong second-level grass allowance race.

That puts the whole field in race 9 on equal footing with the surefire favorite for Friday's fifth race - the illustrious Golden Hare.

Golden Hare is 2007's poster boy for the claiming set, with a nation's best 13 victories on the season. Golden Hare, an 8-year-old gelding, has made 16 starts this year, and has won at 10 different racetracks. A Fair Grounds score would make it 11.

"He's extremely proud of himself," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "He does not consider himself a lower-level claimer."

Scott Blasi, who has the unusual distinction of being Golden Hare's owner and Asmussen's assistant, claimed Golden Hare for $3,500 out of a second-place finish in November 2006 at Remington Park. To call Golden Hare a sharp claim would be saying far too little.

A borderline stakes horse in 2002, Golden Hare had fallen hard by the time Blasi haltered him. His loss that afternoon at Remington was his 21st in a row, and Golden Hare was coming back from a layoff of 14 months. Since then, it has been nothing but 1's and 2's in Golden Hare's past performances: 18 wins, 3 seconds.

All of which makes it almost heretical to suggest that Golden Hare could be beaten Friday. Golden Hare has plenty of wins at Friday's six-furlong distance, but something slightly shorter might be his best trip. Also, Golden Hare does most of his work on or near the lead, and there appear to be other speed horses in Friday's race. A closer with a touch of quality, such as Shot the Deputy, or even a second Asmussen-trained horse named Billy Idel, might have a chance at an upset.

Claim shmame. For those who love the sport the fact he's running for $10k or $1M shouldn't matter. He brings heart, muscle, wits, and personality. What else could anyone want.

[Glimmerglass]

For the record: Golden Hare (by Gilded Time out of Bugs Rabbit, by Storm Cat)

Lifetime record 51 starts 22-9-3
Lifetime earnings: $374,889
2007 record (excluding today's start): 16 starts 13-3-0
2006 record: 6 starts 5-1-0

[Glimmerglass]

Wahoooo!

Race 5 - Dec 28, 2007 - Fair Grounds (http://www.drf.com/results/28/rFG28.html?rn=699036#5) - results

1 - Golden Hare
2 - Hello Ladies
3 - Billy Idel

[Barnfairy]

Hooray!

That was close -- by a nose?

[Glimmerglass]

As cited on another thread, but this is more of his thread then not: DRF 2-27-08 "Golden Hare does what he always does -- win" (http://www.drf.com/news/article/92598.html)

The horse with the most wins (in the US) for 2007, picks back up where he left off: going to the winner's circle :D

Among Golden Hare's rivals Monday was the multiple stakes winner Distinguish. Golden Hare, 9, set a quick pace in the six-furlong race and ran the distance in 1:09.19.

Old man, "cheap claimer, slow? No way! The 9-yr old earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90 and made this his 7th consecutive win.

Btw, as an aside, he has relatives who win too (http://www.drf.com/news/article/92097.html):

Kettleoneup, a leading contender for the Grade 1, $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap, is scheduled to make her first start of the year in next week's $50,000 Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Kettleoneup is a half-sister to Golden Hare, who won 14 races last year to rank as the winningest horse in North America.

[miss_critic]

As cited on another thread, but this is more of his thread then not: DRF 2-27-08 "Golden Hare does what he always does -- win"

Oops-you're right!

[Equilibrium]

I thought I'd also like to draw your attention to a race run at Newbury yesterday in England. It was a vetrans' race for 10yrs of age and up over fences.

Congrats to the 12yo Tango Royal and team Pipe for having this guy in tip top form.

Really a great race and think they are going to have more of them in future NH seasons.

I like seeing all the hard knockers having great days out!

Terri

[mbj]

Why hasn't someone claimed Golden Hare away from his current owners if he is so successful?

[solargal]

He runs in starter allowance races. These are allowances races but for horse that have ran for a certain claiming price in the past, generally within the last two calender years, like 2007-2008. Horses are not eligible to be claimed in these races.

[Glimmerglass]

Golden Hare alert!! And he's going on the grass in a stakes race

Saturday April 5, Sam Houston Race Park!

$50,000 Sam Houston Turf Sprint Cup (http://www.drf.com/entries/05/eHOU05.html?rn=060941#9) with a field of 10 competing at five furlongs. Golden Hare is listed as a the 5-2 morning line favorite. The only remark from Steve Asmussen:

"It's a huge step up in class," Asmussen said. "But the old man deserves a chance."

On a side note one of the runners in the field is a horse I wagered on at Saratoga back in 2005 on the undercard of the Travers Stakes - Shark. He was of note as he collapsed after a finish in last place. He was suffering from heat exhaustion and after being hosed down he stood up a few minutes later. That generated joy from Tom Durkin and huge loud cheers that came from an audeince of 30k strong which was quite moving.

4/4/08 Grand Island Indepedent "Golden Hare blue collar star in Asmussen barn" (http://www.theindependent.com/stories/04042008/spo_spofonmonk04.shtml)

the excerpted article in large part as it explains this winning machine for those unfamiliar

Once upon a time, Golden Hare set off to be like Pyro, but somehow plans didn't quite work out.

Missing his entire two-year-old season, Golden Hare debuted on Feb. 2, 2002, in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita and won his debut easily at 32-1 odds. The rest of his three-year-old season went well as Golden Hare won three out of 10 races and ran a credible fourth in the Grade One Malibu Stakes.

Somewhere during his four-year-old campaign, Golden Hare forgot how to win or really how to compete and like many horses, went down the ladder, losing along the way. The once-promising gelding lost 18 consecutive races over a three year period and found himself in a $3,500 claiming race at Oklahoma City's Remington Park on Aug. 22, 2006.

Two important things happened that day for Golden Hare: He lost his 19th straight race and he was claimed by Scott Blasi and Steve Assmussen. Blasi works as Asmussen's assistant trainer and, in fact, spent six straight weeks in Dubai with Curlin before the World Cup.

However, in the case of Golden Hare, Blasi owns the horse, so even though Assmussen is his employer, as far as Golden Hare goes, Blasi is Asmussen's boss.

To say that Golden Hare enjoyed his new surroundings is like saying that birds like to fly. At first asking, Golden Hare won for his new connections and on second asking and on third asking. In fact, Golden Hare embarked on an eight-race win streak in the tough starter allowance ranks, before losing by a nose at Churchill Downs.

The gelding must have gotten mad, as he then won five consecutive races, before going into a long dry spell finishing second two straight times at Presque Isle Downs. Evidently, Golden Hare didn't care for the new racetrack in Erie, Pa., as he has since won seven straight races to improve his record under Blasi and Assmussen to 23 starts, 20 wins and three seconds, earning more than $200,000.

Don't think that this is a horse beating up on some lame competition on one track. In fact, Golden Hare travels so much he should be sponsored by American Van Lines. Since coming to his new connections, the well-traveled Golden Hare has run at 13 different racetracks in seven different states and has won races at Will Rogers Downs, Remington Park, Houston Racecourse, Retama Park, Turfway Park, Ellis Park, Churchill Downs, the Fair Grounds, Evangeline Downs, Delta Downs, Oaklawn Park and on the turf at Indiana Downs.

[Glimmerglass]

Close but no cigar ...

Sam Houston Park Sat Apr 5, 2008 - Race 9 "Sam Houston Turf Sprint Cup S." (http://drf.com/results/05/rHOU05.html?rn=065842#9)

win - Smitty's Sunshine
place - Golden Hare
show - Super Struggler

[Glimmerglass]

Golden Hare returned again today (7/30) at Ellis Park - race 6 - and was as per usual much the best winning by about 5-lengths on turf. (http://drf.com/results/30/rELP30.html?rn=728871#6)

What I didn't see before is the fact he was claimed away in a race at Churchill Downs on May 23, 2008. Somehow he escaped for the longest time during his big win streak in 2007 from getting snagged from Steve Asmussen's assistant, Scott Blasi.

This brief article and picture of him (http://therail.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/a-true-racehorse/) was in the NYTs back in May the same day he left.

He's now owned and trained by:
Trainer: D. Kelly Ackerman
Owner: Gregory D. Ande

Under Blasi/Asmussen and claimed for $3,500 on August 22, 2006, that hard charging gelding won 20 of his next 25 starts. Earnings for period were in excess of $200K, despite the fact that most races were of the $5K starter allowance level.

[Glimmerglass]

Digging this thread back up a year later: the 2009 Claiming Crown at Canterbury Park will be held on Saturday (http://drf.com/news/article/105754.html)

... the Claiming Crown will further entrench itself into the North American racing psyche when the seven-race, $600,000 series is run for the 11th time. Inaugurated in 1999 at Canterbury as a way to honor the unsung heroes of the sport, the event enters its second decade as a well-established pilgrimage for horses that rarely find racing's spotlight.

"I always keep the Claiming Crown in mind for my horses," said Scott Lake, the all-time leading trainer in event history with eight wins. "It's a great event and a lot of fun."

As for Golden Hare I haven't seen him in a while and he won't be at Canterbury.