Kentucky Derby 137 trophy arrives at Churchill Downs

"It is absolutely priceless," Forbes said. "This trophy is something that you

can't buy. You have to win this particular item to acquire it."

Forbes and Powers wore white gloves as they moved the trophies from their

boxes to a display table as members of the media looked on at the formal

unveiling of the trophies. The trophies were displayed publicly for the first

time during a media briefing on Tuesday in the Directors Room in the Churchill

Downs clubhouse.

"We start manufacturing this trophy sometime in the early fall, and we spend

about 2,000 man hours making this trophy," Forbes said. "It's made up of some 29

different parts that represent 19 different components to the trophy. We utilize

a number of different manufacturing processes. We use a casting process, a

spinning process and a stamping process. The entire trophy is made of14-karat

gold, but three of the components are made of 14-karat green gold."

The design of the coveted Kentucky Derby Winner's Trophy dates to 1924, when

it was presented to Black Gold, the winner of the Golden Anniversary Derby. 

New England Sterling manufactured the trophy for Louisville jeweler Lemon & Son

from 1975-1999, and has supplied the trophy directly to Churchill Downs since

1999.

"We have 16 different artisans that touch this trophy during the

manufacturing process," Forbes explained. "This is the crown jewel of our

company. The Kentucky Derby trophy is a work of passion for us -- we love doing

what we do. We love participating in such a great event."

The solid gold trophy will make several stops throughout the community over

the next few weeks at events leading up to the 137th Kentucky Derby. Among those

events is the second annual "Taste of Derby" on Thursday, May 5, at Mellwood

Arts & Entertainment Center. Information on that event is available at

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/tasteofderby.

Displayed alongside the Kentucky Derby trophies were jewelry items that are

part of the first Kentucky Derby Trophy Collection. That limited collection was

also created by New England Sterling, which used the small amount gold left over

from the manufacture of the Kentucky Derby Winner's Trophy to fashion the gold

and silver items offered in the new collection.

"Anyone who acquires a piece of the jewelry will own a piece of this year's

Kentucky Derby trophy," Forbes said. "We have taken a small amount of gold that

is left over from the manufacturing process and we have taken that gold and

fashioned it into the pieces of jewelry in this very limited collection."

The Kentucky Derby Trophy Collection pieces include a necklace, pendant, hat

pin, key tag, money clip, cufflinks, lapel pin, tie tac and charm bracelet. 

The collection's items range in price from $200-$500 and can be purchased online

at

http://www.kentuckyderbytrophycollection.com.