Nominations to the 2018 Triple Crown will close Saturday, Jan. 20, with an early-bird nomination fee of $600 that makes horses eligible for the GI Kentucky Derby, GI Preakness S. and GI Belmont S. A late nomination period will begin Jan. 21 and last through Monday, Mar. 19 with a payment of $6,000 due at that stage.
All Triple Crown nominations made by traditional mail must be postmarked by the Jan. 20 closing date. Nominations may also be made online at www.thetriplecrown.com. Online, telephone and fax nominations must be completed prior to the deadline at 11:59 p.m. ET Jan. 20.
Any 3-year-old not nominated at either of the first two stages may be supplemented to the Triple Crown races. The supplemental fee makes a horse eligible for the remainder of the series. A supplemental entry to the Kentucky Derby requires a payment of $200,000, while the Preakness supplemental fee is $150,000. A $50,000 payment is due at the time of entry for the Belmont S.
Churchill Downs adjusted its entry process in 2014 to permit horses that are made supplemental nominations prior to the Kentucky Derby to be treated the same as original nominees. If one or more supplemental nominees possess sufficient “Road to the Kentucky Derby” points to qualify for the Derby field, they will be allowed to start over original nominees that possess lesser qualifications. Under its previous policy, Churchill Downs gave preference in all cases to early and late Triple Crown nominees.
Representatives for each Triple Crown host track are as follows:
Churchill Downs:
Racing Secretary Ben Huffman at (502) 638-3820 or Ben.Huffman@KyDerby.com
Kelly Danner at (502) 638-3825 or Kelly.Danner@KyDerby.com Fax: (502) 638-3915
Pimlico:
Director of Racing/Racing Secretary Georganne Hale at (800) 638-1859 or ghale@marylandracing.com
Stakes Coordinator Coleman Blind at the same number or via email at cblind@marylandracing.com
Fax: (410) 542-1221
Belmont Park:
Senior Vice President of Racing Operations Martin Panza at (718) 659-4241 or mpanza@nyrainc.com
Stakes Coordinator Andrew Byrnes at (718) 659 4217 or via email at abyrnes@nyrainc.com.
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