There are auctions that claim to offer museum pieces in their offerings, but these pieces are literally the real deal. These enormous hand-stitched nylon banners representing Whirlaway and Citation, two of racing's most illustrious and famed Triple Crown champions emanate from the Kentucky Derby Museum, located in Louisville, Kentucky, adjacent to the legendary Churchill Downs Racetrack. The oversized banners, measuring nearly 7 feet in length were witnessed and enjoyed by millions of racing fans and visitors while hanging from the domed ceiling rafters of the esteemed facility.
The banners were proudly displayed as part of a collection that included all 12 Triple Crown champions to date prior to their removal in 2009 when the museum underwent a massive renovation. The dual banners feature the devil’s red and blue Calumet racing stable colors for each respective champion along a diagonal slant as well as the embroidered name and image of the winner.
The first banner represents Whirlaway, the beloved 1941 American Triple Crown winner who amassed 32 wins in his 60 starts during his storied racing career. Whilaway was named Horse of the Year in 1941 and 1942, earning recognition as Co-Champion 2-Year-Old Male in 1940, Champion 3-Year-Old Male in 1941 and Champion Handicap Male in 1942. He was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1959.
The second banner pays tribute to the legendary 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation, another Calumet Farm champion. Citation’s four-year racing career boasted a phenomenal 32 wins in 45 starts. He was the 1948 Horse of the Year as well as the 1947 Champion 2-Year-Old Male, 1938 Champion 3-Year-Old Male and Co-Champion Handicap Male in 1948 and 1951. Citation stood at Calumet Farm upon his retirement and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1959.