Update: June 24, 1997

HELP! TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of people throughout the country and around the world, we've now raised $949,000 toward our goal of $1,200,000. Our sincere thanks go out to all of those who have so generously supported our efforts to save this magnificent collection.

Bill Cooke, Director
International Museum of the Horse
Kentucky Horse Park
606 259 4231

SAVE THE
CALUMET FARM TROPHIES

For nearly 50 years, the name Calumet Farm was synonymous with excellence in American racing. The incomparable trophy and painting collection amassed during this period serves as a living testament to Calumet's dominance of "The Sport of Kings." Since 1982, the 560 trophies and 35 paintings have been on loan to the International Museum of the Horse at the Kentucky Horse Park, where they have been viewed by nearly five million Museum visitors. They have formed the heart and soul of the Museum's story of Kentucky's most famous industry.

Today the collection faces an uncertain future. Unless approximately $1.2 million is raised within the next few months to purchase the collection, it will not only be removed from public exhibit at the Kentucky Horse Park Museum, but also could be dispersed piecemeal to the highest bidder. This would diminish the value of the collection as a whole, and would represent a tremendous loss of a significant piece of Kentucky's, America's, and racing's heritage.

The International Museum of the Horse, the Kentucky Horse Park, the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation, concerned citizens from both Lexington and Kentucky, and leaders of the Thoroughbred industry from throughout the country have come together in an effort to save this priceless piece of equestrian heritage.

We need your help. A special account has been established under the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation to accept donations to be used solely for the purchase the trophies and paintings. The amount of your contribution, whether large or small, is not paramount. What is important is the spirit of participating and the willingness to be a part of the effort to preserve the collection, and to save an invaluable part of American racing heritage.

The account (#339078296) is housed at National City Bank in Lexington. The Foundation is a tax exempt, 501(c)(3), private charitable organization. All contributions are tax deductable. Your name will be listed on a special donor's credit panel at the entrance of the exhibit. If you can join us in our efforts to save the trophies, checks should be made payable to "Save the Calumet Trophies," and sent to:

Save the Calumet Trophies
The Kentucky Horse Park Foundation
4089 Iron Works Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
1-888 8TROPHIES

For further information, contact:

Bill Cooke, Director
International Museum of the Horse
Kentucky Horse Park
4089 Iron Works Pike
Lexington, KY 40511
(800) 568 8813 ext. 231 Or: MailTo: khp@mis.net (Bill Cooke)

For more information call toll free:
1 888 8TROPHIES

Calumet Farm

From 1932, when Calumet Farm first converted to Thoroughbred racing, until Mrs. Lucille Markey's death in 1982, Calumet Farm recorded 2,401 wins - 508 of which were in stakes races. Twelve times Calumet led the list of Leading Money-Winning Owners. Of its 148 homebred stakes winners, nine won in excess of $500,000. Eleven Calumet horses - Alydar, Armed, Bewitch, Citation, Coaltown, Davona Dale, Real Delight, Tim Tam, Twlight Tear, Two Lea, and Whirlaway - have been elected to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame, along with father-son trainers, B.A. "Ben" and H.A. "Jimmy" Jones. Calumet captured two Triple Crowns, eight Kentucky Derbies, and seven Preakness victories. Sixteen Calumet horses captured a total of 35 year-end divisional championships, with five taking the Horse of the Year title.

Calumet was number one on the list of Leading Money-Winning Owners twelve times, and in the top three from 1939 to 1954, and acquired total earnings of $26,410,941.06 - a record that speaks for itself. The farm produced 148 stakes from 1934 through 1982.

It is unlikely that any farm will ever dominate Thoroughbred racing as Calumet did during the '40's and '50's. One thing, however, seems certain. Calumet Farm, now owned by Count Henryk de Kwaitkowski, remains and will continue to remain a major force in American Thoroughbred racing.

 The Calumet Trophy Collection

The trophies won by Calumet farm from 1934 through 1982 have been on exhibit at the International Museum of the Horse since 1982. The collection was made available as a long term loan by the heirs of Warren Wright, Sr., and the late Lucille Parker Wright Markey. It is the largest collection of American racing tropies ever assembled by one farm.

In 1996 Sotheby's appraised the collection at between $800,000 and $1,200,000. The 35 paintings and photos included in the collection were appraised at approximately $200,000.

The exhibit contains numerous types of gold and silver trophies including:seven crystal glass trophies, 298 silver trophies, 129 gold trophies, one china urn, 103 silver Julep cups, three gold Julep cups. The collection includes eight Kentucky Derby trophies, four more than any other farm, and also a record seven Preakness trophies. Additional highlights are Whirlaway and Citation's Belmont and Triple Crown trophies, and the 1936 Bluegrass Stakes trophy won by Bull Lea. This coin silver trophy was originally commisioned by the citizens of Lexington to present to Elijah Warfield, breeder of the great 19th century sire named for the city.

Calumet's NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Triple Crown Races

The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes combine to form the most sought after prize in American Thoroughbred racing.The Triple Crown. Calumet Farm had in Whirlaway and Citation two of only 11 horses ever to achieve this honor. Three others - Pensive, Tim Tam, and Forward Pass - came close, winning the first two legs, only to fall short in the Belmont. In all, Calumet captured a record eight Kentucky Derby trophies, with Whirlaway first receiving the blanket of roses in 1941, followed by Pensive in 1944, Citation in 1948, Ponder in 1949, Hill Gail in 1952, Iron Liege in 1957, Tim Tam in 1958, and Forward Pass in 1968. The farm also collected a record seven Preakness victories: Whirlaway in 1941; Pensive, 1944; Faultless, 1947; Citation, 1948; Fabius, 1956; Tim Tam, 1958; Forward Pass, 1968. The elusive Belmont has been won by the farm's horses only twice, with Triple Crown Winners Whirlaway and Citation scoring in 1941 and 1948 respectively.

Two Triple Crown Winners:

Eight Kentucky Derby Winners:

Seven Preakness Stakes Winners:

Three National Filly Triple Crown Winners:

Eleven Horses in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame:

Five Horses of the Year Titles:

Two Trainers in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame:

Go to the Exhibit
Calumet Farm: Five Decades of Champions

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Copyrighted Photos courtesy of William Strode