Arrest Made in Theft of Ward's Royal Ascot Trophies

One individual allegedly involved in the theft of Royal Ascot trophies from trainer Wesley Ward's home in Versailles, Ky., last month has been arrested by police, Versailles Police Department assistant chief Rob Young said March 10. Some of the trophies have also been recovered, though with extensive damage.

"Unfortunately they tried to burn them down," said Ward, who also forwarded a photograph of the recovered pieces.

Brian Wylie, 47, was booked in Fayette County Jail March 9, charged with receiving stolen property valued between $1,000-$10,000.

Ward is the winningest American-based trainer in Royal Ascot history, getting his first victories with Strike the Tiger  and Jealous Again  in 2009 and notching his 12th win there last year with Campanelle  in the Commonwealth Cup (G1).

The trophies carried tremendous sentimental value to Ward, who had one trophy presented to him by Queen Elizabeth after the trainer captured the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) with Undrafted  in 2015.

Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee first reported an arrest and the trophy recovery on Twitter.

Ward said Thursday it is his understanding that more perpetrators could be at large. Young declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

Young said half of Ward's 14 stolen trophies had been recovered, with the burn damage on the engraved pieces showing an attempt "I'd say to conceal their identity so they could be sold."

Again mentioning an ongoing investigation, Young declined to comment if the crime was random or if Wylie knew Ward. Ward said he did not know who had been charged and had been under the belief that two people had been arrested in an interview with BloodHorse Thursday.

"It's better they got 'em, even if the trophies are damaged," he said. "You feel a little bit better about people breaking into your house. They probably won't be doing that again."

Ward received a notification on the day of the theft from a remote camera inside his home with a screenshot of an individual wearing a yellow jacket who was believed to be responsible. The image did not show the person's face.

Also taken was a trophy from Judy the Beauty 's 2014 DraftKings Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) victory.

Young said that Wylie's arrest in Fayette County was made in cooperation between the Versailles Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, and the Lexington Police Department.

This week has been challenging for Ward, who lost three horses in a barn fire March 6 after a lightning strike.

"These trophies were nothing compared to that," he said.

One of the three horses killed was the aforementioned 15-year-old Strike the Tiger , who after his racing days became a pony for the trainer. The others were 5-year-old Modesto , and an unraced 2-year-old Hootenanny   gelding.