Claiming Thoroughbreds: The fastest start to ownership

When claiming thoroughbreds , they usually must stay at that track until the end of the current meeting. He can't run at a different track while the meeting during which he was claimed is still going on. You can run the horse as soon he's ready, literally be in the racing game 1 or 2 weeks and claiming thoroughbreds as a new owner can be very exciting. Claiming thoroughbreds is the easiest fastest way to participate in horseracing.

Most states control how claimed horses can be entered after the claim. This restriction, called being "in jail," most states require that if you run the horse back in the first 30 days of ownership he must be entered for a claiming price 25% higher than the claim price.

Claiming thoroughbreds varies in different states, the managing partner and trainer will take care of the requirements, leaving you free to enjoy the races, competition and pride of thoroughbred ownership.

When claiming thoroughbreds, a claiming slip is filled out, put in a sealed envelope, time stamped, and put in the claim box. The locked claim box is in a booth in the racing secretary's office with a time clock next to it. After the claiming deadline typically ten to thirty minutes prior to the race - the box is opened and any claim slips are opened. The claim slip must be filled out correctly or the claim will be nullified.

If the claim slip is correctly filled out (claims have been voided by an incorrect date or misspelling), they verify that the enough money is on deposit with the horsemen's bookkeeper and that the new owner is licensed.

After the race and with this claim slip in hand, the trainer goes to the unsaddling area and gets his horse. Most tracks claims are announced as the horses return after the race. A racing official will yell " Sell the 5" and everyone knows the 5 horse was claimed.

They the bridle off the horse and the new owner puts on his halter and takes the horse to his new barn. Claiming thoroughbreds in a partnership allows you to concentrate on having a great day at the races and the trainer and managing partner take care of the details.

Once you have put in a claim and the starting gate opens, the horse is yours - win, lose, or draw; dead or alive; even though any winnings from that race go to the previous owner. Many claimed horse have broken a leg during the race and has had to be destroyed.

When more than one claim is entered, they use a "shake" to determine who claims the horse. The shake involves using a "Kelly" bottle with numbered pills, as they are called. This is the same bottle used by racing secretaries to conduct the draw for post positions.

If there are five claims, five numbered balls are put in the Kelly bottle. The racing secretary draws one of the numbered pills from the Kelly bottle, and the winner is selected.
If the horse wins by 10 and came back sound, you will be hoping to win the shake, but if he ran last and came back lame, you will be hoping for a different outcome.

Claiming thoroughbreds can be a dangerous game, which is another reason you should choose your thoroughbred racing partnership carefully.

Sometimes claiming horses become stakes horses. But don't count on it.

Charismatic ran for a price before going on to win the '99 Kentucky Derby. Undoubtedly, the greatest claim of all time came in the 40's when Hirsch Jacobs, claimed Stymie for $1,500 and went on to win more than $900,000 with him. Those are the days when a major stakes race carried a purse of $25,000-added.