California Chrome Vox Populi Charity Auction to benefit
Secretariat Foundation
Collectors, “Chromies,” and curators will be vying for the
race-worn winning silks of a champion as well as other prized pieces in a
historical opportunity in the California Chrome Vox Populi Charity Auction.
This unique, 10-day online auction will feature five
museum-quality pieces celebrating California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), the hero of last year’s
Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1), recipient of the 2014 Eclipse Awards for Horse of the
Year and champion three-year-old male, and the Secretariat Vox Populi Award, which recognizes the horse whose
popularity and racing excellence best resounded with the American public and
gained recognition for Thoroughbred racing.
The items — all with impeccable provenance and of profound
significance — were donated by California Chrome’s owners, Steve Coburn and Perry
Martin, in collaboration with Penny Chenery and the Secretariat Archives, to
benefit the Secretariat Foundation.
Most notable in the collection are the actual
DAP Racing silks worn by Victor Espinoza when he guided California Chrome to his
first significant win in the San Felipe s. (G2) at Santa Anita last spring. This
piece, signed by each member of the California Chrome team, marks the first
time — at least in recent memory — when the original race-worn winning silks of a
newly crowned Horse of the Year have been offered to the general public.
The auction also will feature a sculpted bust of California
Chrome by esteemed equine artists Kitty Cantrell and Caroline Boydston, who
created the official trophy for the Vox Populi Award, as well as an original oil
painting of California Chrome by acclaimed Kentucky equine artist Jaime Corum.
The Vox Populi prints released earlier this month at Santa
Anita were created and published from this original portrait.
The Vox Populi Auction also will offer two items that
represent the storied career of California Chrome’s trainer, Art Sherman. One is
a 1955 issue of Sports Illustrated, featuring the legendary Swaps on the cover
and signed by Sherman, who as a teenager was a stable hand and exercise rider
for Swaps’ connections.
The other is an exquisite miniature hand-painted pewter
figurine of California Chrome commissioned specially for this auction. Only two
of these miniatures were produced, and the other Sherman received during the Vox
Populi Award presentation as a special reminder of his amazing champion.
Secretariat.com, in conjunction with eBay, will host this
first-ever Vox Populi Auction. Bidding began Thursday evening and concludes
Sunday, February 8. For more information about the auction or the Vox Populi Award
visit Secretariat.com.
The Secretariat Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization created by Chenery
to assist the Thoroughbred industry in the areas of research, rehabilitation,
retirement and recognition. Chenery named the foundation after her great champion to use his enduring appeal
to bring greater awareness to the many causes found within the equine-related
community. Secretariat Foundation revenue is raised through donations, signing
appearances, and the sales of memorabilia and officially licensed products on
Secretariat.com.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com