by Frank Angst

Account deposit wagering outlets TrackNet Media Group, Television Games Network, and Youbet.com will each offer wagering on the Old National Bank Claiming Crown races on August 4 at Ellis Park.

Under encouragement from the National Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, the three outlets have agreed to a content sharing arrangement that will make the event available to a wider audience.

Also, all three outlets have agreed to donate fees they normally would retain on Claiming Crown race wagers back to Claiming Crown Ltd., which is owned by the National HBPA and the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Eighty-three horses are pre-entered for this year’s Claiming Crown, which will offer $600,000 in purses in seven races. The Claiming Crown is reserved for horses that have started in at least one claiming race this year.

Ellis Park has a distribution agreement with TrackNet Media, which gives the simulcast distributor owned by Churchill Downs Inc. and Magna Entertainment Corp. rights to this year’s event. On Tuesday, TrackNet Media offered the wagering and video rights to the event to other outlets. TVG and Youbet.com both agreed to pick up the races.

“Our horsemen in Kentucky and across the country couldn’t be happier that TrackNet Media responded to our request to share the Claiming Crown will all commercial advance deposit wagering companies,” said National HBPA President Joe Santanna. “I commend both TVG and Youbet.com for stepping up and buying those rights for their customers, and offering to contribute any profits back to Claiming Crown Ltd.”

Besides offering wagering on the races, TVG plans to televise the event.

“The Claiming Crown is a special day for horsemen across the country and we believe it is important to do our part to contribute to the future prosperity of the event,” said David Nathanson, TVG general manager.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times