Sale! Churchill Downs 1903 Paddock Wood Color Top Pen

This pen is crafted from the authentic wooden beams and trusses of the 1903-1923 paddock at Churchill Downs®. The wood supported the paddock in which prized thoroughbred horses were showcased and mounted before races.

Sale price$150.00 Regular price$180.00
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Product Details

This chrome-plated rollerball pen features the paddock wood twice: the barrel is turned from the wood and the aged surface is set in the top.

Engraved "Churchill Downs Paddock 1903-1923." Ships with rollerball cartridge (Schmidt P8126 or P8127) and can also accept "Parker style" ballpoint refill cartridges.

Officially licensed by Churchill Downs Racetrack, each pen comes in Churchill Downs themed gift-box with a Certificate of Authenticity.

DUE TO LICENSING RESTRICTIONS PLEASE NOTE WE ARE UNABLE TO SHIP CHURCHILL DOWNS LICENSED ITEMS TO CANADA.

Warning: This product may contain one or more chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer or to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Measures 5" long and a slim 7/16" in diameter


Authenticity

In 2014, Churchill Downs® approached Tokens to make gifts from the beams and trusses of the Racetrack's paddock built in 1903. Churchill Downs planned to incorporate this structure into the second story "Grandstand Pavilion" but building codes made its use cost prohibitive so it was carefully dismantled in 2013. The wood has been transferred to Tokens for a new life celebrating Churchill Downs' history and pageantry. Officially licensed by Churchill Downs Racetrack.

Due to licensing restrictions we are unable to ship Churchill Downs licensed items to Canada.

The History of Churchill Downs Paddock Wood

In 2014, Churchill Downs® approached Tokens to make gifts from the beams and trusses of the Racetrack's paddock built in 1903. Here, prized thoroughbred horses were showcased and mounted before races.

During its existence, Sir Barton, a chestnut colt bred in Kentucky, won the 1919 Kentucky Derby® by five lengths and went on to be the inaugural Triple Crown winner. 1923 was the last year this paddock was used since a new paddock was built behind the clubhouse. Over the course of the last 89 years, this paddock served different track functions, primarily housing parimutuel windows.

Recently, Churchill Downs planned to incorporate this structure into the second story "Grandstand Pavilion" but building codes made its use cost prohibitive so it was carefully dismantled in 2013. The wood has been transferred to Tokens for a new life celebrating Churchill Downs' history and pageantry.

The Kentucky Derby

Kentucky has been home to horse racing since the late 18th century. In 1875, Col. M. Lewis Clark opened Churchill Downs. Clark designed the Kentucky Derby®, Kentucky Oaks® and Clark Handicap as the three major stakes races modeled after England's Epsom Derby, Epsom Oaks and St. Leger Stakes.

This paddock was built in 1903 and, during its existence Sir Barton, a chestnut colt bred in Kentucky, won the 1919 Kentucky Derby by five lengths and went on to be the inaugural Triple Crown winner. 1923 was the last year this paddock was used since a new paddock was built behind the clubhouse.

Over the course of the last 89 years, this paddock's wood served different track functions, primarily housing parimutuel windows. Over the past century, Churchill Downs was named National Historic Landmark in 1986 and remains a beloved icon by horse racing enthusiasts.

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