'It's just incredible': Rare opportunity to witness transfer of Woodlawn Vase

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."

Updated: 11:50 PM EDT May 16, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Updated: 11:50 PM EDT May 16, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

For as many Preakness races run over the years, Hearst sister station WBAL got a chance this year — for the very first time — to witness the transfer of the most valuable trophy in American sports.Here's what it took to move the most famous trophy in American sports from Baltimore to Laurel Park.Video above: Preakness trophy got its start in LouisvilleThere were two rules: One, once the vase was first unboxed, we had to leave the room for inspection. Two, an obvious one, no touching the trophy.It wasn't what we expected at Laurel Park, and yet it sure made sense."Preakness is real when the trophy arrives," Mike Rogers, executive vice president of 1/ST Racing, told WBAL.If you were transporting a $4 million trophy from the Baltimore Museum of Art, you'd rent an innocuous white van, too."I think it's more than a trophy. It's a piece of art. The history to it is irreplaceable," Rogers said. Carrying the Woodlawn Vase is a delicate undertaking with four men from 1/ST Racing who comprise "vase detail" — one man for every million it's worth.The Woodlawn Vase, the thoroughbred of vases, is refined, pricey and pedigreed — and it wields celebrity status. Even Rogers, who has been around it for decades, is still in awe."As this race has been run on many days of the year and goes back 100 years to different locations, the one thing that has been consistent is this trophy," Rogers said.Tiffany and Co. created it in 1860 for a Louisville club known as the Woodlawn Racing Association. During the Civil War, it was buried in Kentucky to keep it from being melted into shot. It is 30 pounds of solid sterling silver, standing 3 feet tall, and is topped with the champion horse known as Lexington, whose offspring includes a horse called Preakness.The vase has been the official trophy of the Preakness Stakes since 1917.Every year, a replica of the vase is cradled by the winner between disbelief and elation."It's just, it's incredible," Rogers said.With 1/ST Racing passing the Preakness torch to the Maryland Jockey Club, Rogers said he thinks this may be his last time being so close to the priceless prize."To be a part of it is an honor, for me, probably is one of the biggest honors of my career," Rogers said.And so, as the Woodlawn Vase heads to the money room at Laurel Park — yes, that's what they call it — the stewards of history proceed with caution, reverence and respect."They take their job with enormous pride," Rogers said. "It's almost like their baby, and everyone holds this trophy in extremely high regard. That's a testament to what it means to people."

LAUREL, Md. —

Here's what it took to move the most famous trophy in American sports from Baltimore to Laurel Park.

Video above: Preakness trophy got its start in Louisville

There were two rules: One, once the vase was first unboxed, we had to leave the room for inspection. Two, an obvious one, no touching the trophy.

It wasn't what we expected at Laurel Park, and yet it sure made sense.

"Preakness is real when the trophy arrives," Mike Rogers, executive vice president of 1/ST Racing, told WBAL.

If you were transporting a $4 million trophy from the Baltimore Museum of Art, you'd rent an innocuous white van, too.

"I think it's more than a trophy. It's a piece of art. The history to it is irreplaceable," Rogers said.

Carrying the Woodlawn Vase is a delicate undertaking with four men from 1/ST Racing who comprise "vase detail" — one man for every million it's worth.

The Woodlawn Vase, the thoroughbred of vases, is refined, pricey and pedigreed — and it wields celebrity status. Even Rogers, who has been around it for decades, is still in awe.

"As this race has been run on many days of the year and goes back 100 years to different locations, the one thing that has been consistent is this trophy," Rogers said.

Tiffany and Co. created it in 1860 for a Louisville club known as the Woodlawn Racing Association. During the Civil War, it was buried in Kentucky to keep it from being melted into shot. It is 30 pounds of solid sterling silver, standing 3 feet tall, and is topped with the champion horse known as Lexington, whose offspring includes a horse called Preakness.

The vase has been the official trophy of the Preakness Stakes since 1917.

Every year, a replica of the vase is cradled by the winner between disbelief and elation.

"It's just, it's incredible," Rogers said.

Everyone holds this trophy in extremely high regard. That's a testament to what it means to people.

With 1/ST Racing passing the Preakness torch to the Maryland Jockey Club, Rogers said he thinks this may be his last time being so close to the priceless prize.

"To be a part of it is an honor, for me, probably is one of the biggest honors of my career," Rogers said.

And so, as the Woodlawn Vase heads to the money room at Laurel Park — yes, that's what they call it — the stewards of history proceed with caution, reverence and respect.

"They take their job with enormous pride," Rogers said. "It's almost like their baby, and everyone holds this trophy in extremely high regard. That's a testament to what it means to people."

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'It's just incredible': Rare opportunity to witness transfer of Woodlawn Vase

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