The Man o' War Cup, originally the Kenilworth Gold Cup, is a solid gold trophy that commemorates the winners of the

Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Graded stakes race, Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. It is nicknamed the "Midsummer Derby" and is the third-ranked race for American three-year-olds accor ...

, held each August at Saratoga Race Course in

Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 28,491 at the United States Census 2020, 2020 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the ...

, United States. Since 1936, Winners of the Travers, affectionately called the "Mid-Summer Derby" have their name inscribed on the original and receive a gold-plated replica of the Cup. The Cup is named after the 1920 winner of the Stakes race, Man o' War. Man o' War went on to defeat the famed Sir Barton, the first winner of the American Triple Crown, at a special match race at Kenilworth Park in

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, Canada. It was for that race that Samuel D. Riddle received the trophy, which was later donated to Saratoga by Mrs. Sam (Elizabeth) Riddle in 1936. William Woodward's Granville won the 1936 Travers Stakes and was the first to be presented with the Cup.Thoroughbred Record. Vol. 124, No. 8 (Aug. 22, 1936), p. 127. The cup was designed by Tiffany & Co. for Abe Orpen, owner and manager of Kenilworth, at a cost of $5,000, for the famous match race. Each year the original gold trophy is presented by a member of the Riddle family and either the

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

or Lt. Governor of the State of New York. A replica is made each year and that gold-plated smaller version of the permanent trophy is given for permanent possession to the owners of the winning horse.

References

{{reflist Horse racing in the United States Saratoga Race Course Horse racing awards American horse racing trophies

See also

References