Hamburg, NY – Buffalo Raceway will offer the April Reins Claiming Series, beginning on Friday, April 10 and run three consecutive Fridays with the $30,000 finale scheduled for Friday, May 1.
The event is open to all pacers with a claiming tag of $7,500. There are no nomination or entry fees and horses not currently racing at Buffalo Raceway are welcomed and encouraged to enter.
Fans are also going to be a part of the Series as well. Patrons attending any or all of the preliminary round races will be matched with a horse each Friday. If their horse reaches the finals, they’ll win free wagers for the Series finale on Friday, May 1. Should their horse win, they will receive additional free bets on the Kentucky Derby, which will be held on Saturday, May 2. Those bets can be used on Friday, May 1 at Buffalo Raceway when early wagers for the Kentucky Derby open.
It’s risk or reward as leg one of the April Reins Claiming Series will carry a purse of $12,500 on Friday, April 10 for the $7,500 USD claimers. After that, brackets will be contested on Fridays with the claiming prices rising to $8,500 in leg two and to $10,000 in leg three. Horses must race in all three legs in order to qualify for the finals and cannot be claimed out of that race.
The top eight point-getters in the three races earn a spot in the championship. Points will be handed out the same as the purse distribution with 50 percent (50 points) going to each leg winner and so on. If one or more of the top eight point-earners refuses to enter the series final or are ineligible to compete for any reason, including regulatory, the next highest point earner will be eligible to enter.
No trainer or owner may have more than two horses eligible in the series final. If a trainer or owner has more than two horses eligible, the trainer or owner may choose the two horses to be entered. If there are more than two coupled entries eligible to the series final, the lowest point earner(s) from the coupled entries will be drawn out. In the event of a points tie, the horse(s) will be drawn out by lot. There must be six betting interests for the title race or it may be called off.
There must be 21 separate betting interests to start the series or it may be called off.
No owner/trainer changes will be allowed after the series begins, unless a horse is claimed.
The claim office will be open from noon until 45 minutes before the final Series race of the day.
For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com.