Derby 138 trophy arrives at Churchill

The current design of the Kentucky Derby winner's trophy dates to 1924, when

Col. Matt Winn, Churchill Downs' legendary general manager and eventual track

president, commissioned the trophy for the Derby's "golden anniversary" running.

Two earlier versions of the trophy had been presented to the winning owner in

1922 and 1923.

The trophy will be in the care of the Kentucky Derby Museum in the days

leading up to the May 5 "Run for the Roses." It traditionally makes several

public appearances prior to the race. 

This year's travel itinerary for the Kentucky Derby Winner's trophy includes

stops at the Kentucky Derby Museum Gala on April 27, the Kentucky Derby Media

Party on May 2, the Taste of Derby Party on May 3 and the Middletown Kroger on

Kentucky Oaks Night, May 4. In the latter event, the trophy will be on display

while the Kroger team members create the traditional garland of roses that will

be worn by the Kentucky Derby winner on the following day.

Outside of jeweled embellishments made to the trophy for the special

anniversary renewals in 1949 (75th Derby), 1974 (100th), and 1999 (125th), there

has been only one significant change in the trophy's design. That change also

came in 1999, when track officials deferred to Thoroughbred racing tradition and

changed the direction of a decorative horseshoe on the trophy. The horseshoe had

pointed downward on each trophy created since 1924, but the design was altered

and the horseshoe was turned up on the 1999 Derby trophy. Racing superstition

holds that all of the luck will run out of a horseshoe that is turned downward.