Since the 50th running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) in 1924, Churchill Downs has annually presented a gold trophy to the winning owner.
History is unclear about if a trophy was presented in 1875 to the winner of the first Kentucky Derby, and trophy presentations were sporadically made in following years. Yet finally in 1924, legendary Churchill Downs President Col. Matt J. Winn commissioned a standard design to be developed for the “Golden Anniversary” of the Derby.
Outside of the jeweled embellishments that were added to note special Kentucky Derby anniversaries in 1949 (75th), 1974 (100th), 1999 (125th) and 2024 (150th), only one change has been made to the original design -- for the 125th Kentucky Derby in 1999, Churchill Downs officials decided to defer to racing lore and change the direction of the decorative horseshoe displayed on the 14-karat gold trophy. The horseshoe, fashioned from 18-karat gold, had pointed downward on each of the trophies since 1924.
To commemorate Kentucky Derby 125, changes were made and the horseshoe was turned 180 degrees so that its ends pointed up because racing lore suggests that if the horseshoe is turned down all the luck will run out. The trophy now annually incorporates the horseshoe with the ends pointing up.
Since 1975, the trophy has been created by representatives of S.R. Blackinton of Smithfield, Rhode Island, a company that is led by Susanne Blackinton-Juaire and her husband Bill Juaire.
Susanne Blackinton-Juaire is a fifth-generation silversmith whose family entered the profession in 1862 – 12 years before the first Kentucky Derby was run in 1875. The Kentucky Derby trophy, which is topped by an 18-karat gold horse and rider, includes horseshoe shaped handles, is 22 inches tall and weighs 67 ounces, excluding its jade base. The trophy is handcrafted except for the horse and rider that are both cast from a mold. To complete the trophy by April, craftsmen begin the process during November of the previous year and work approximately 2,000 hours.
The trophy is believed to be the only solid gold trophy that is annually awarded the winner of a major American sporting event. Additionally, three smaller sterling silver replica trophies are awarded to the winning jockey, trainer and breeder.
Following an old-established Derby custom, the tall and stately Derby trophy will be presented to the winning owner by Kentucky’s chief executive, the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Andy Beshear. The trophy presentation will follow the conclusion of the race and takes place at around 7 p.m. ET.
Once engraved, another presentation of the Kentucky Derby trophies to the winning owner, breeder, trainer and jockey is tentatively scheduled between races at Churchill Downs on Stephen Foster Stakes (G1) Day approximately two months later after the completion of the Triple Crown series.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
