Who’s looking forward to the “most exciting two minutes in sports”? There are few American sporting events with more rich tradition and history than the Kentucky Derby. In fact, it’s the longest-running sporting event in the United States, and everyone watches Thoroughbred horse racing on the first Saturday in May. Sipping Mint Juleps, wearing an extravagant hat and singing along to “My Old Kentucky Home”… every “Run for the Roses” is especially celebrated by those who appreciate fine horses. The first Kentucky Derby was run on May 17, 1875 and hosted by the Louisville Jockey Club. A total of fifteen three-year-old horses contested the race in front of a cheering crowd of 10,000 spectators, with Aristides emerging as the winner. The race was longer then; one and half miles instead of today’s mile and a quarter. However, the crowds are a lot bigger nowadays – over 170,000 people gathered to see American Pharoah run the first leg of his eventual Triple Crown.
This year the big race will take place on May 7, 2022. Avid horseracing fans are keeping a sharp eye on the up-and-coming Derby hopefuls – have you picked your favorite horse yet? Savvy enthusiasts will follow the columns of racing journalists, scour websites, look at pedigrees and pay close attention to horses that are doing well in Derby prep races. Every “Derby Trail” is full of hopes, dreams, worry, triumph and sometimes heartbreak… and it all comes down to the moment the starting gate crashes open and twenty beautiful Thoroughbred horses thunder past the famous Twin Spires of Churchill Downs.
In 2020 the first horse past the finish line (on the first Saturday in September, of all things, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic) was none other than Authentic, the fabulous bay colt by Into Mischief. Authentic came into the Kentucky Derby as the second-favorite, but on this day he responded to the challenge laid down by rival Tiz The Law and drew away to win the race in excellent time. Authentic rounded out his racing career with a win in the 2020 Breeder’s Cup Classic, making him only the fourth horse in history to win both of America’s biggest races.
Now, Jane Heart Jewelry is extremely proud to bring the only licensed jewelry of Authentic to racing fans and horse-lovers. Two designs have been created, showing the horse either in the paddock or racing for one of his many wins. Jane Heart herself has a special connection to Authentic: she is a micro-share owner via the MyRaceHorse group! Authentic’s portraits are available as pendants or brooches in hand-cast and polished solid sterling silver. Now at stud at Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, KY, Authentic is enjoying the visits of many fans and pedigreed mares alike.
The Authentic portrait jewelry joins Jane Heart’s Famous Racehorses Collection of other exclusive licensed Thoroughbred designs including Derby winners Secretariat, Barbaro, American Pharoah and Justify, and the magnificent Man o’ War. These pieces truly capture the unique “look” of each horse in exquisite detail. Jane Heart strives to bring the highest level of authenticity to all her horse jewelry, and Authentic and the other racehorses represent the very best of her talent and love of horses.
Keep tuned to this year’s Kentucky Derby Trail… we can’t wait to see who will be there to run for the roses on the first Saturday in May!