WEBVTT WLKY-DOT-COM. WHEN THE WINNER OF THE KENTUCKY DERBY WALKS AWAY WITH ITS PRIZE, IT TAKES A PIECE OF LOUISVILLE WITH IT. AND THE SAME WILL GO FOR TOMORROW'S "PREAKNESS" WINNER. IT'S A TRADITION THE PRESTIGIOUS RACE HAS CARRIED FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY. AND IT STARTED IN LOUISVILLE. WLKY'S ERICA COGHILL EXPLAINS. "Louisville is known as Derby City-- but about 10 miles from Churchill downs-- there's some history that also connects us to the Preakness, in the city of Woodlawn Park." THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE DRIVE BY IT EVERYDAY ON WESTPORT ROAD IN WOODLAWN PARK-- A HISTORICAL MARKER-- PROCLAIMING THE CITY'S TIES TO A STAPLE OF THE PREAKNESS STAKES-- "THE WOODLAWN VASE." WORTH MORE THAN ONE-MILLION DOLLARS-- IT'S THE MOST VALUABLE TROPHY IN AMERICAN SPORTS-- AND IT'S HISTORY IS JUST AS RICH-- BEGINNING IN THE HEART OF LOUISIVLLE...AT THE WOODLAWN RACE COURSE "I think people probably are surprised there was a race course here." MAYOR OF WOODLAWN PARK, MIKE BROWN, SAYS-- NOW A HOME-- THIS USED TO SERVE AS A GATHERING SPOT FOR TRACK-GOERS. "A reverend owned this and he was able to state there were two different clubhouses-- one for men and one for women." THERE'S LITTLE LEFT OF THE TRACK TODAY-- IT WENT BANKRUPT. BUT THE TRACK'S TROPHY LIVES-ON. IT SURVIVED CENTURIES-- INCLUDING THE CIVIL WAR IN KENTUCKY-- WHERE IT WAS SECRETLY BURIED FOR PROTECTION... THEN DUG-UP... EVENTUALLY MAKING ITS WAY... NATS OF HORSES RUNNING ...TO CHURCHILL DOWNS. THE TROPHY LEFT LOUISVILLE IN 1878 AFTER A HORSE FROM NEW YORK WON A CHURCHILL DOWNS RACE CALLED THE "GREAT AMERICAN STALLION STAKES." THE HORSE'S OWNERS TOOK THE VASE TO THE EAST COAST. "It was used for several races in New York until it was awarded to the Maryland jockey club in 1917." ...WHICH MANAGES THE PIMLICO RACE TRACK WHERE THE PREAKNESS IS RUN. "It was awarded on a yearly basis-- the winning owner would get to keep the trophy for a year and then bring it back for the next winning owner." TODAY, REPLICAS OF THE VASE ARE GIVEN TO THE PREAKNESS WINNERS. THE ORIGINAL IS ON DISPLAY AT THE BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART. MAYOR BROWN HOPES IT FINDS ITS WAY BACK TO LOUISVILLE. "If anywhere in the country-- the Woodlawn Vase deserves to be right here in woodlawn park, it seems right to me." "If you'd like to see the Preakenss trophy for yourself, you can-- a replica is on display at the Derby Museum. Erica Coghill, WLKY News."