After the collectors classes are dismantled, the collectibity classes begin in earnest which means I don't get much time to photograph models during the show. We (my sister and I) show in the main Collectibility division as well as in the collectibility sections in the Foal and Mini divisions. It gets a little hectic to say the least. Nonetheless, we were lucky enough to do well with a couple of models.
My sister won overall reserve champ in minis with this mega-rare silver electroplated G1 SM ASB in the only known original box. These models were made in 1975 for Breyer's 25th anniversary, and very few are known to collectors.
And after many years of trying, I finally won overall champ in the collectibility division with my 1971 test run palomino Proud Arabian Mare. She is one of my most favorite models, and I'm embarrassed to say I got a little choked up when she was announced as the winner. :)
After the show, we headed back to our hotel for dinner and tasty adult beverages.
Once we were recharged, we headed over to the CHIN to shop and socialize. Our first stop was the Artisans Gallery where we visited with our friend Kristina Lucas Francis for a few minutes. Kristina, along with collector Ed Alcorn, has resurrected the
Hagen-Renaker Collectors Club, and she had some interesting HRCC goodies on display.
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| SR prize for the HRCC photo show held in August 2016 |
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| 2016 SR Roan Lady available for purchase to HRCC members only |
On Saturday, we had no obligations other than to have fun, so we drove out to the Kentucky Horse Park to see the Calumet Collection in the International Museum of the Horse, something I had not had time for in past years. As a life long racing fan, it was a thrill to see the trophies, the paintings, and the historical ephemera that have been preserved by the park. The history of Calumet Farm is a large part of the history of horse racing in 20th century America. The farm produced two Triple Crown winners, 8 Kentucky Derby winners, 7 Preakness winners, 3 winners of the Fillies Triple Crown, and countless other champions.
Some of the beautiful Franklin Voss and Richard Stone Reeves paintings:
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Bull Lea, Calumet's super sire who produced great horses like Citation,
Armed, Coaltown, and Twilight Tear |
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| Twilight Tear, the first filly to be voted Horse of the Year |
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| The great mare Bewitch |
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Calumet's champions and trainers (L to R): Citation, Jimmy Jones, Armed,
Faultless, Wistful, Bewitch, Ben Jones, Fervent, Two Lea, Ponder, and Coaltown |
Calumet's famous "devil" red and blue silks.
And the halters. I got goosebumps when I saw these.
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| Bull Lea's halter |
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| Citation's halter. Yeah. Seeeeerious goosebumps. |
And, of course, the trophies. I love how the KHP recreated part of Calumet's famous trophy room.
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| Whirlaway's Triple Crown trophy |
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| The trophy room---80 years worth of winners |
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The Triple Crown collection---8 Kentucky Derbies, 7 Preaknesses, 2 Belmonts,
and 2 Triple Crowns. (Several of Citation's trophies are out on loan to the
traveling "The Horse" exhibit. I saw them when it passed through The Field
Museum here in Chicago in 2011.) |
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The Eclipse Award won by champion 3 year-old filly Our Mims in 1977.
She was a half-sister to the great Alydar. |
Speaking of Alydar, one of Calumet's last great horses, there was a display devoted to his mighty rival Affirmed just beyond the Calumet collection gallery. I was delighted to be able to see a Richard Stone Reeves painting up close. He has long been one of my favorite equine artists.
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| Affirmed's halter and shoes |
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| Some of his many trophies |
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| And a lock of his mane |
This ended up longer than I thought, so I'll save the pictures of the Breyer test runs and real horses for the next post.
