April 25, 2024

1943 Travers Stakes Trophy Man O’War Cup For Sale

Judging by the fact that he doesn’t have his own Wikipedia page, Eurasian might be one of the more forgettable Travers Stakes winners, which also might account for the owner’s trophy being available at auction with a starting bid of $1,440.

Via the online auction site Invaluable, New Orleans Auction is offering the Man O’War Cup replica presented to owner Mill River Stable (incorrectly identified as Hill River in the listing’s description).

The original Man O’War Cup is a permanent trophy and is solid gold. This is a smaller replica made by Tiffany in Silver. The item description notes that the trophy includes Tiffany’s World War II ‘star’ mark to indicate that it was made in America after April 17, 1943. I.e., this was the first Travers trophy to include such a designation.

Another distinction for the 1943 edition of the “Midsummer Derby” is that it featured a record purse of $19,850. That year’s eventual champion three-year-old male was Triple Crown winner Count Fleet, who did not race again following his 25-length win in that year’s Belmont Stakes.

Happy bidding!