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Confessions of a racing memorabilia junky
My non-racing friends (and my wife) think I'm crazy for the amount of racing keepsakes and collectibles I buy. I regularly browse ebay (mostly for photos), always buy a souvenir at the track on the big days (usually a lapel pin) and always keep the program, and if I go to a second-hand store or a flea market or a yard sale, I've got this kind of racing memento radar that lets me home in on the horsey coffee cup sitting three deep on the bottom shelf.
What's your best piece of racing memorabilia and what's the story behind it? |
I've been collecting the American Racing Manuals for about 5 years... Used to buy them at Lyrical Ballad in Saratoga one at a time... Ebay has made it easier and cheaper to fill in Now have nearly 50 of them from 1937-2005..
Have about 30 Derby Glasses as well... One of my favorite pieces is Reverberate's groom's walking ring bib from Belmont last year... The unique things I have are the two "quarter poles" that I've made that sit in front of the Barbecuse at Saratoga. Then trainers, riders, owners, media types, etc. sign it all meet. Total one-of-kinds... Have tons of racing stuff... |
Where do I start? :D
I have some flowers from the Arkansas Derby Winner's Circle when Afleet Alex won & autographed program autographed program from '06 Whitney by Bejarano & Jara autographed program & DRF of Castellano after the '06 JCGC Derby Ticket Stubs, programs etc autographed photo of Ghostzapper & Castellano Jazil pin from the KY Derby post position draw Tons of photos (Bellamy Road, Alysheba, Smarty etc) Barbaro & War Admiral beanie babies & several Beyer Ornaments Photo of myself and the real Sightseek Win photo of Charismatic, the program, pins and tickets all framed together Lots of races bought on videotape through e-bay |
I really haven't started collecting much, but would love to get some more pictures. Does anyone know a good website to visit that has a lot of photos for framing? (other than Ebay)
Good thread BTW. |
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my one and only Saratoga hat from Steve Byk himself, who was able to get it personalized....it reads...
"To Golf Pro Kevin.....VERNON BUSH" YES....THE VERNON BUSH:D ...famed jock of Tampa Downs and Suffolk Downs |
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1) What the hell Vernon was thinking when Bykster asked him? 2) How many autographes has Vernon signed in his life? STILL an outstanding gift. |
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I still remember the day Hooves called me and Byk got on the phone and told me about it.......I was crying, but they were tears of laughter no doubt..:D |
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I am a reformed pack-rat and no longer keep anything but the most important keepsakes...it's too hard to move that crap around.
My favorite racing item is a 7 foot long official win photo of the entire field from the 73 belmont...one of these days I will have the $$ to get it framed. |
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and cant remember the name of the horse to save my ass right now either Steve...an old Tampa Runner too...I should be ashamed...:o |
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Just watched it on NYRA.com. MOVING LIKE A TREMENDOUS MACHINE |
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Peter Fox sells great photos at http://www.championsgallery.com/ and he sells on ebay as pedrozorro. Eclipse award winning photographer Bob Coglianese sells on ebay as photoad. |
I just got a framed picture in the mail of Showing Up winning the Hollywood Derby with a flower from the prize-coat thanks to a fantastic person employed by Hollywood.
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My favorite momento was a present from my wife: A photo of Alphabet Soup, Louis Quatorze, and Cigar nearing the finish of the 1996 BC Classic. It's signed by the jockeys over each rider's horse. Not a bad set of riders either: McCarron, Bailey and Day.
--Dunbar |
thanks to sammy steves god son a few of us a have a stunning photo of alydar..then the bykster got it sighned by the jock..also a awesome barbero pick signed by prado......and vernon bush hat was funny..he said im just gonna shoot up the rail....he got cut off by coa..lol.game over..:D
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Shadow Roll,
My most prized is the 1969 Bloodhorse stallion register. One of my favorites is listed. 20-16-2-1-1, earnings $900,592. Stood at Tartan Farms, Ocla Fl. owner John A. Nerud. The bay's name...Dr. Fager. DTS |
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Very nice! One of my favorites, too. I've got a photo of him with Baeza's autograph, framed and hanging in my office. |
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My favorite would probably be the "win" tickets I saved from Seattle Slew's Belmont. |
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Actually, two of mine carry Dr Fager blood. He sired a mare named Remedia, the dam of Too Chic, the dam of Alpargata (sire Alydar), dam of Daygata (Dayjur by Danzig). One is a 2yo filly, Darlin' by Day, one is a yearling colt, Daring Day. Also, your avitar is very good. |
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The original hangs at Sperry's on Caroline St. Hubbs got a number of oversized copies made and I had Jorge Velasquez sign them. It's a totally unique shot of the race and rather cool piece of memorabilia with the original "J.V.'s" autograph... |
I have a fairly diverse collection. Lots of original time win composites (2 John Henry, & Lady's Secret, signed, Cigar BC, and many more) My favorites are some of the older matted ones from the 40s and 50s of claimers. I also have several cool win photos of Calumet horses from Southern CA wins in the 50s,
and a Calumet stall webbing from the Lundy era. Somehow I managed to get all of the Santa Anita Steins to collect dust, too, along with 3 Chris McCarron win trophies: Cavonieer Cal Cup Juve, Purdue King, and Love Smitten (Swain's Dam). A few saddle cloths, shoes, halters and other odball stuff. Too much to display. It becomes addicting. I guess my most unusual thing is a harness item, a 3' x 4' banner that hung in the old Quad City Downs commerating the "Fastest nighttime mile" there 10/1/82, by Rambling Willie. Lots of books. Someday............... I'll get pics of everything in an album on the web. |
My prize collectible is a 1973 Saratoga Whitney program signed by Secretariat’s trainer Lucien Laurin.
As a 20-something year old college student, I actually bumped into him after the running of the Whitney. He graciously signed my program even though he must have been disappointed and upset over the outcome of the race. A true gentleman as well as an outstanding trainer |
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My favorite racehorse memorabilia is the entire Danberry Mint Racehorse collection, my Breyer collection of many great racehorses, my original oil painting of Barbaro winning the Kentucky Derby by Pat Delong, and my Secretariat photo of the entire Belmont stretch run (you all know which one I am talking about) signed by Ron Turcotte. Pat Delong has an awesome store now where she sells a ton of memorabilia through paintings...I could buy her out. I love that kind of stuff. http://stores.prime-equine.com/Categ...=Store+Catalog Here's my Barbaro painting again...I know that I've shown it on here a million times, but we have a lot of new members... http://www.finalturngallery.com/SmartyJones/barbaorftg |
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Echo Farm.... Sounds like a very nice collection to me. And you've given me some ideas of things I'd like to find! I posted awhile back that I was recently thrilled to find and buy a winner's circle photo from 1950. From Ascot. Ascot Park. In Akron, Ohio. It's where I cut my horseracing fan teeth! And my real teeth! |
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