Secretariat Memorabilia Auction
LANDMARK SECRETARIAT MEMORABILIA AUCTION THROUGH LELANDS.COM
Secretariat’s Belmont Blanket to Highlight Historic Offering
The Oct. 27, 2017 Secretariat Triple Crown Memorabilia Auction was a rousing success, with sales for the three historic pieces totaling more than $183,000. Detailed Results Below.
Secretariat’s 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes was one of the 20th century’s most lauded moments in sports: Two minutes and 24 seconds that are forever sealed in the American consciousness as Big Red captured the Triple Crown. After a performance for the ages, the newly crowned champion proudly donned the impressive blue presentation blanket with white hand-stitched lettering, a gift from the New York Racing Association to Meadow Stable.
Like a time traveler bearing the glory of that historic day, this blanket was offered Oct. 27, 2017 in a landmark Secretariat Memorabilia Auction along with jockey Ron Turcotte’s 1A armband from the Kentucky Derby, Secretariat’s Preakness garland, and other significant racing artifacts.
These impressive auction pieces, which premiered at Equestricon in Saratoga Springs, NY, represented one of the most significant opportunities for sports collectors in recent memory.
In addition to the Secretariat memorabilia, the auction featured distinguished items commemorating two other Thoroughbred Horse of the Year champions and their legendary racing performances: Dr. Fager’s 1968 Suburban trophy and Arts and Letters’ 1969 Travers trophy. Both pieces emanate from the personal collection of Hall of Fame jockey Braulio Baeza.
The online auction was conducted by the notable sports auction house Lelands, with bidding taking place for several weeks through the website Lelands.com.
“My hope is that these pieces of racing history will make a mark on the sport’s present and better the future for its horses,” said Mrs. Penny Chenery, Secretariat’s owner. “This collection has been almost a half century in the making and I’m optimistic that the impact of the auction will be a complete success providing recognition for our industry and for the causes so important to our sport and its equine athletes.”
Turcotte’s 1A Armband ($34,176) has been in protected storage during the past 44 years, a coveted keepsake from Secretariat’s record-setting win in the 1973 Kentucky Derby, during which the reigning Horse of the Year ran each quarter faster than the one before.
The Preakness Garland ($60,546) had been displayed at various venues during 2017 in anticipation of the auction, and its proceeds benefited R.A.C.E. Fund, the TAA-accredited charity assisting racehorses in need of retirement and rescue from slaughter.
The 1973 Belmont Stakes Presentation Blanket ($88,810), a personal favorite in Mrs. Chenery’s private collection, had been on loan for the past several decades to the Kentucky Horse Park, where thousands of visitors may remember seeing it on display.
Lelands has seen a growing interest and popularity for racing memorabilia. “We are excited and honored to be working so closely with Secretariat.com,” said Mike Heffner, Lelands’ president. “This auction should prove to be one of the most historic ever, offering collectors one-of-a-kind items from not only Secretariat, but also other fine items from world-class horses and jockeys.”
Read “An Auction for the Ages” by racing journalist Steve Haskin detailing the historic back story or each of these legendary items.
The auction was conducted in a “Last Man Standing” format. This means that items were available for online open bidding for one month beginning September 27 until the closing date of October 27 at 10:00 p.m. Upon closing, anyone who placed a bid during the preceding month-long open bidding period could continue to privately bid against others who placed initial bids, until there was only one last high bidder remaining at which point the auction then officially ended. For more detailed information on the bidding process, visit Lelands.com.
