Confessions of a racing memorabilia junky
 

My non-racing friends (and my wife) think I'm crazy for the amount of racing keepsakes and collectibles I buy. I regularly browse ebay (mostly for photos), always buy a souvenir at the track on the big days (usually a lapel pin) and always keep the program, and if I go to a second-hand store or a flea market or a yard sale, I've got this kind of racing memento radar that lets me home in on the horsey coffee cup sitting three deep on the bottom shelf.

What's your best piece of racing memorabilia and what's the story behind it?

I've been collecting the American Racing Manuals for about 5 years... Used to buy them at Lyrical Ballad in Saratoga one at a time... Ebay has made it easier and cheaper to fill in Now have nearly 50 of them from 1937-2005..

Have about 30 Derby Glasses as well... One of my favorite pieces is Reverberate's groom's walking ring bib from Belmont last year...

The unique things I have are the two "quarter poles" that I've made that sit in front of the Barbecuse at Saratoga. Then trainers, riders, owners, media types, etc. sign it all meet. Total one-of-kinds... Have tons of racing stuff...

Where do I start? :D

I have some flowers from the Arkansas Derby Winner's Circle when Afleet Alex won & autographed program

autographed program from '06 Whitney by Bejarano & Jara

autographed program & DRF of Castellano after the '06 JCGC

Derby Ticket Stubs, programs etc

autographed photo of Ghostzapper & Castellano

Jazil pin from the KY Derby post position draw

Tons of photos (Bellamy Road, Alysheba, Smarty etc)

Barbaro & War Admiral beanie babies & several Beyer Ornaments

Photo of myself and the real Sightseek

Win photo of Charismatic, the program, pins and tickets all framed together

Lots of races bought on videotape through e-bay

I really haven't started collecting much, but would love to get some more pictures. Does anyone know a good website to visit that has a lot of photos for framing? (other than Ebay)

Good thread BTW.

Do I get to sign if I make an appearance at Toga?

e-bay would be your cheapest route.

my one and only Saratoga hat from Steve Byk himself, who was able to get it personalized....it reads...

"To Golf Pro Kevin.....VERNON BUSH"

YES....THE VERNON BUSH:D ...famed jock of Tampa Downs and Suffolk Downs

I would absolutely LOVE to know two things

1) What the hell Vernon was thinking when Bykster asked him?

2) How many autographes has Vernon signed in his life?

STILL an outstanding gift.

I still remember the day Hooves called me and Byk got on the phone and told me about it.......I was crying, but they were tears of laughter no doubt..:D

Vern was enjoying his Carolina Barbecue lunch at the time.. It was a lot like the story of Babe Ruth and the kid in the hospital... I told Bush all about Kev and how he was recovering from surgery.. He said he would "ride the race of his life" for the 'poor kid'... I think he finished 5th..

I am a reformed pack-rat and no longer keep anything but the most important keepsakes...it's too hard to move that crap around.

My favorite racing item is a 7 foot long official win photo of the entire field from the 73 belmont...one of these days I will have the $$ to get it framed.

and cant remember the name of the horse to save my ass right now either Steve...an old Tampa Runner too...I should be ashamed...:o

You know what one of those costs, EVERY Arlington Million Day they have this guy trying to flip Secretariat stuff and that is his prized possession, that official win photo framed, he wants $499.99 for it.

Just watched it on NYRA.com. MOVING LIKE A TREMENDOUS MACHINE

Peter Fox sells great photos at http://www.championsgallery.com/ and he sells on ebay as pedrozorro. Eclipse award winning photographer Bob Coglianese sells on ebay as photoad.

I just got a framed picture in the mail of Showing Up winning the Hollywood Derby with a flower from the prize-coat thanks to a fantastic person employed by Hollywood.

My favorite momento was a present from my wife: A photo of Alphabet Soup, Louis Quatorze, and Cigar nearing the finish of the 1996 BC Classic. It's signed by the jockeys over each rider's horse. Not a bad set of riders either: McCarron, Bailey and Day.

--Dunbar

thanks to sammy steves god son a few of us a have a stunning photo of alydar..then the bykster got it sighned by the jock..also a awesome barbero pick signed by prado......and vernon bush hat was funny..he said im just gonna shoot up the rail....he got cut off by coa..lol.game over..:D

I was there when a little kid thought it was funny to sign one of the quarter poles. I think if Byk had found the kid he would have de-virginized him with the same pole.

I am the one and only though, nothing comparable, and I am part of racing.....

lol..didnt you get a tg hat sighned by jerry brown,,lol