Keeneland Unveils New Milestone Trophy

For the most successful Thoroughbred owners, Keeneland is as good as gold.

This autumn, as part of its 80th anniversary celebration, Keeneland has unveiled a new milestone award: the gold vase. Keeneland worked with Tiffany & Co. to create the vase, which will be awarded to the most successful of owners at the Lexington track.

One of the details that makes Keeneland special is its awarding of a gold julep cup to owners who win a graded stakes. When an owner is fortunate enough to win eight graded stakes at Keeneland, they receive a milestone trophy of a gold tray. Every eight graded stakes wins that follow, another milestone trophy is awarded by Keeneland.

After the gold tray, the Keeneland milestone trophy program awards a gold pitcher, then a gold bowl. The vase will follow the bowl.

"When it was initiated, it was to celebrate those that participate and exemplify the highest level of competition in the sport," Thomason said of the milestone trophy program launched in the fall of 1952. "We decided to do something that was going to celebrate those horsemen; horsemen who are successful and epitomize racing as it is meant to be and racing at the highest level."

These trophies celebrate the most elite owners to race at the track. Only 19 owners have received the gold tray and only three of those have received the gold pitcher: William S. Farish in spring 2003, Bwamazon Farm (Millard Waldheim) in spring 1983, and Claiborne Farm in fall 1968. Claiborne Farm is the only owner to receive the gold bowl, achieved in the fall of 2003.

Farish, a Keeneland trustee, is one graded stakes win away from being awarded the bowl. Since earning the bowl, Claiborne Farm has added two graded stakes wins toward the vase.

Elements from each one of the prior signature trophies is included in the vase that was crafted over a two-year span, with each detail carefully and meticulously designed. Those elements include beading from the tray along the rims, the form and handle from the pitcher, the shape of the neck from the cup, and the base from the bowl. The same engraving detail is used on each piece and incorporates elements such as the laurels, eagle, and wreath from Keeneland's signature gate post. The cartouches are then engraved with the winning horse's name.

"It's an excellent and lovely piece," Thomason said. "I, for one, can't wait to hand this to somebody. We obviously don't know who it's going to be but we have people working on it."