1955 Willie Shoemaker Kentucky Derby Trophy
APPRAISER:
So, John, you brought in this fabulous trophy, 1955 Kentucky Derby, Willie Shoemaker, the jockey, won by the horse Swaps. How did you get it and how did you know Willie Shoemaker?
GUEST:
He was my father.
APPRAISER:
Wow!
GUEST:
Yeah, yeah.
APPRAISER:
And you're how tall?
GUEST:
I'm six foot tall.
APPRAISER:
Okay.
GUEST:
But I'm adopted. My sister and I were adopted.
APPRAISER:
What do you remember about your dad's career? What stands out to you?
GUEST:
Well, you know, he was my father, so that part didn't really mean much to me. I mean, I remember other things about my dad, playing basketball with John Wayne, you know, stuff like that. Those are the kinds of things I remember. I don't really remember much about his career.
APPRAISER:
Sounds like a great guy.
GUEST:
I liked him.
APPRAISER:
And he was a fantastic jockey. When he was born, he was premature.
GUEST:
Yes.
APPRAISER:
And the story goes that his grandmother actually made... fashioned an incubator out of a shoe box and put him in it on the stove, basically.
GUEST:
Opened the oven and put him on the oven door.
APPRAISER:
And basically saved his life.
GUEST:
Yeah, sure.
APPRAISER:
He grew up, 4' 11"?
GUEST:
4' 11".
APPRAISER:
100 pounds?
GUEST:
When he was heavy he was like 95 to 105.
APPRAISER:
He rode for 50 years. Just an amazing career from your dad. And to have this trophy is absolutely fantastic. Now, if I was going to put a value on it— now, I do notice that the horse has left the barn here.
GUEST:
Yes, yes, he has.
APPRAISER:
He's left the top of this. That's easy enough, I think, that you can put that back on. But when we value the trophy, we look at the horse, which was Swaps, who was 1956 Horse of the Year. And we also look at the fact it was your dad's first Kentucky Derby win out of four. I would insure it for at least $25,000.
GUEST:
Cool, very cool.
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