Comments on: Off to the Races with Kentucky Derby Collectibles

By: Tom Carrier

Tom Carrier — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:58:31 +0000

Larry:

I did some quick checking on WorthPoint which now includes all past auction prices from Ebay and most auction houses and found these:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/churchill-downs-charleswittwer-kentucky-derby

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1979-churchill-downs-kentucky-derby-whiskey

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/79-kentucky-derby-churchill-downs-full-decanter

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1979-kentucky-derby-decanter-by-old-bardstown

Your decanter seems to have an auction value of between $31 and $102, all sold on Ebay within the last 3 years. Why the large difference in value? Hard to say.

Is your decanter empty or full? State law doesn’t allow for your decanter to be sold outside of ABC stores if it is full. Some collectors don’t want empty ones. It’s a difficult market. I had a special Reagan inaugural issue of Maker’s Mark full whiskey bottle that had to be sold privately because of the restrictions. Check on that before offering it up on Ebay or other public venues.

Hope this helps.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

By: Larry Hanes

Larry Hanes — Sun, 08 May 2011 22:07:47 +0000

I have a whiskey decanter I bought in 1979. It has the Kentucky Derby stands and Secretariat (head only) coming out of the front. I have been trying to find out something about this item but haven’t seen another one like it. It is signed on the back by Charles A. Wittwer. Made by Aesthetic Specialties, Inc. The bourbon is Kentucky Straight Bourbon. I can send you pictures if you want.
Thank you,
Larry Hanes

By: Elaine Puricelli

Elaine Puricelli — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 23:35:03 +0000

Thank You Tom for your assessment.
My commemorative Maker’s Mark (gold label and wax) is a presentation bottle complete with a gold colored presentation box and Mr. Prado, Barbaro’s jockey, signed the label for me making it, I think, more collectible than the rest of the M.M commemorative Barbaro bottles (it’s peers issued at the same time).
And of course I saved the program from the local race I attended which is where I saw Edgar Prado. I saved the pen as well. I also have an autographed copy of the book Edgar Prado wrote,”My Guy Barbaro.” I have quite a few Barbaro newspaper clippings and photographs taken at various tracks as well. My unusual, “must have” pieces of the collection are pages of correspondence from the foreman of Babaro’s tomb in which he states my idea for one particular feature of the tomb was being “seriously considered” by Barbaro’s owners (even though the idea, to date, has not been made a reality). Also, letters of correspondence from Barbaro’s vet Dr. Dean Richardson that were e-mails to me during the weekend of the tomb’s unveiling. These items make the Barbaro connection to me, an avid fan of his, more real especially as time goes by. Barbaro died January 2007.
While I would love to have seen Barbaro at a racetrack and never saw Barbaro while he was alive, at least I can plan a trip to Churchill Downs at any time, to visit Barbaro’s tomb.
Thanks again.

By: Tom Carrier

Tom Carrier — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 20:11:18 +0000

Elaine:

It depends on how you define valuable. Will your items, any of your items, have a value enough to buy a new car or a new house or help you plan your retirement, then you’ll be disappointed. In each collectible category there are the “have to have” items and everything else. It’s the “have to have” items, the early, the unusual, the rare, the one of a kind that helps estate planning the most.

In doing a quick glance at the auction results here on WorthPoint, there are any number of items for Barbaro that have been sold in recent years. The signatures, the signed posters, the newspapers, etc. The value of these items seem to be around $50 and less.

However, I do like the Maker’s Mark bottle. I once had a similar Maker’s Mark commemorative created for a Reagan inaugural. That one went for $300 or so, because of how unusual and distinctive it was.

And that brings me to my last point. Collectibility.

If you are collecting only the ‘commemorative’ items sold by commercial companies, you will never reach that highly valued collectible. All these items are meant to be sold as commodities, not as collectibles no matter how many times they say it is one of a kind, rare, scarce, valuable in the future, whatever. They never are.

If you really want to have a valuable collection, then you need to find the most unusual items associated with your interest. Another online auction featured a signed set of Kentucky Derby goggles signed by a jockey. That’s an unusual item right there. For your interest in Barbaro go beyond the traditional ‘commemorative’ items. Find the one or two things nobody has or thought to have. That will be the most valuable item you will have.

But, just in case you missed the point of collecting. It isn’t always about value in the end. It’s about enjoyment. Collect what you like, what you enjoy first. The value will just naturally follow.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

By: Elaine Puricelli

Elaine Puricelli — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 04:45:32 +0000

Hello,
I’ve been looking for a Ky Derby memorabilia discussion site to no avail.
I have several Barbaro items: I’m hoping that in the future they will be highly collectible.
Along with my own binder of newspaper clippings and a few magazines (Blood horse and a commemorative Barbaro magazine published around the time of his death). The crown jewels of my collection are jockey Edgar Prado’s book My Guy Barbaro which he autographed for me, and a fifth of bourbon in the Maker’s Mark, gold colored commemorative bottle which is in pristeen condition along with its gold colored presentation box. The label of the bourbon bottle was autographed by jockey Edgar Prado as he thanked me for “honoring Barbaro.”
Do you suspect that at least my crown jewel items will be valuable in the future? Thanks for any information.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:13:40 +0000

Maryann, I live in Louisville and that sounds like a keychain. I haven’t seen them in years, but when I was little I remember my Mom and several of my friends’ mothers had one. If it has a hole in the top to accept a loop, I’d say that’s what you have. That seat wouldn’t exist anymore (they remodeled the Downs several years ago) I’d expect, but back in the day that would have been a great seat. For Derby 1988, I was 19. I don’t remember it, but I’d be willing to bet a large sum I enjoyed it.

By: Maryann U

Maryann U — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:32:54 +0000

I’d appreciate any guidance about the metal and enamel piece I have from the 1988 Kentucky Derby, #114. It’s approximately 1.5″ X 3.75″, possibly made of brass, and seems to be a ticket to “Admit One” for $70.00 to Section 1, Box 122, Seat 3 – First Floor Clubhouse Box.

Thank you very much!

By: Mary Brenneman

Mary Brenneman — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 03:09:51 +0000

You can post your items in the classifieds. As a member you can post some ads for free. You can register for our free trial membership at http://www.worthpoint.com/user2/createStep1
I have Derby Glasses too. Each year I attend my friend Sharon’s Derby Party and she serves her mint juleps in that year’s Derby Glasses and gives them to guests as party favors. However 1945 goes back a long way. I see you live in the Louisville area from your area code. Try the classifieds. Send us a twitter when you post them at http://www.twitter.com/worthpoint
I can’t wait to see them so ad pictures!
mary

By: James Smith

James Smith — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:43:38 +0000

Hi
I would like to know if you buy derby glass’s
I have 6 1945 in mint shape,they are real not fakes.
If interested my number is
502 767-9679
Thank you
jim