The horse that wins this year’s Preakness Stakes will be adorned with a garland of Black-Eyed Susans, while its owners hoist the Woodlawn Vase. It’s a trophy that is among the most ornate and valuable in North American sports. Its history goes back to the Civil War, and it all started in Kentucky.
Almost two decades before Churchill Downs hosted its first race, Woodlawn Park was the talk of the town. The pristine racetrack opened in 1859 between modern-day Westport Road and Shelbyville Road in East Louisville. Two years later, a breeder commissioned Tiffany & Co. to create a winning trophy for the Woodlawn Classic. A mare named Mollie Jackson won that race to claim the coveted trophy for the first time.
The 36-inch trophy is approximately 30 pounds of solid sterling silver. A marvel then and now, officials at Woodlawn Park were well aware of its value when the Civil War broke out…