Derby News

Photo By: Mark Hoard/CDI

The yet to be engraved Derby 132 trophy.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 6, 2006) - The solid gold trophy that will be presented to the owner of the 3-year-old Thoroughbred that wins the 132nd running of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands on Saturday, May 6 has arrived at Churchill Downs.

The priceless trophy, which is believed to be the only solid gold trophy presented annually to the winner of an American sports event, was delivered to the historic track on Thursday. The Kentucky Derby winner's trophy is created each year by New England Sterling of Attleboro, Mass. and Marc Forbes, the company's president, personally escorted the 14-karat gold hand-made trophy on its journey to Louisville.

"New England Sterling creates many wonderful pieces each year, but the winner's trophy for the Kentucky Derby is undoubtedly the most special item," said Forbes. "As a solid gold trophy produced specifically for each annual renewal of the 'Run for the Roses,' it is, quite literally, priceless when it comes to discussing its value. The Kentucky Derby possesses one of the great traditions in American sport and New England Sterling is proud to play a role as that tradition continues to grow in its 132nd year."

Two earlier versions of the trophy were presented to the winning Derby owner in 1922 and 1923, but the design of the current trophy was commissioned in 1924 by Churchill Downs' legendary general manager (and later president) Col. Matt Winn for the Derby's "golden anniversary" running.

Outside of jeweled embellishments made to the trophy for the special anniversary renewals in 1949 (75th Derby), 1974 (100th) and 1999 (125th), only one significant change has been made in the trophy's design. That change also came in 1999, when track officials deferred to racing tradition and changed the direction of a decorative horseshoe on the trophy. That shoe had point downward on each trophy since 1924, but was turned up on the 1999 Derby trophy and each trophy since. Racing superstition holds that all of the luck will run out of a horseshoe that is turned downward.

The trophy, which is topped by a 14-karat gold horse and rider, has horseshoe-shaped handles and stands 22-inches tall, which includes its jade base. The trophy weighs approximately 60 ounces. The only portion of the trophy that is not handcrafted is the horse and rider atop the gold cup. That portion of the trophy is cast from a mold.

Information on New England Sterling, Inc. is available on the Web at http://www.newenglandsterling.com/index.htm.

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