LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2006 October Signature Sports Auction #705  / 

19337

Johnny Longden Personal Racing Saddle & Blanket

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
Johnny Longden Personal Racing Saddle & Blanket
<B>Johnny Longden's Personal Racing Saddle & Saddle Blanket.</B></I> There are few pieces more personal to the jockey than his saddle, which must be sized, altered and cultivated to each rider's personal preferences in much the same way a ballplayer customizes and breaks in his fielding glove. While surely an expert in this particular field may be able to date the saddle specifically to an era of Longden's career, all that we can state with complete assuredness is that this saddle derives from the same collection of Longden's personal belongings that comprises the other lots listed in this auction. The name "Longden" is either carved or burnt into the front center of the saddle, quite possibly by Johnny personally, and the stirrups remain at the same length that the legendary rider chose for himself. The high-quality leather shows strong wear, suggesting a very active life. The wool and leather custom saddle blanket also demonstrates excellent use. Was this the saddle Longden rode on Count Fleet to win the Triple Crown? It's certainly a possibility. At the very least it is a saddle that he chose to save, which suggests that it held some special meaning to one of the sport's most significant figures.<BR><BR><BR>The Johnny Longden Personal Collection of Horse Racing Memorabilia<BR><BR> Presented in the lots that follow are the spoils and mementos of one of the finest horse racing careers in the Sport of Kings' long and distinguished history. Narrowly missing what may well have been a fatal voyage upon the Titanic to join his father in 1912, Longden turned that fortuitous twist of fate into a life of racing brilliance, retiring in 1966 as the all time wins leader in the sport. In a tour of duty beginning in 1927, Longden established a total of 32,413 mounts and 6,032 winners. Among the world class horses he rode were Swaps and Whirlaway, but he always considered Count Fleet,which carried him to the 1943 Triple Crown, to be the finest of them all. Five times he was the top money winner in the country, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1958. After Longden's retirement, he turned his attentions to training, winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Majestic Prince in 1969. He is still the only man to win the Derby as a rider and a trainer. To this day, only Willie Shoemaker is considered to share the same elite level as a jockey as Longden. And so Heritage is very pleased to have the opportunity to offer these cherished keepsakes from Longden's professional career to the collecting community.
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