The Kentucky Derby, also known as The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports, has been held annually since it was first organized in 1875. This year’s derby drew one of the largest crowds in history, consisting of over 157,000 people. It also marked the 35th anniversary of legendary equine athlete Secretariat’s spectacular win at Kentucky Derby 99 in 1973. To mark this auspicious occasion, Churchill Downs and Woodford Reserve have created the world’s most expensive mint julep cup.
The handcrafted cups are plated with 24-karat gold and feature artwork by legendary sports artist Leroy Neiman. Each one was sold in an oak box lined with a satin reproduction of Secretariat’s blue and white silks. The mint julep inside was made of all-natural ingredients, including mint grown from Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky, where Secretariat was buried whole. The drinks also include ice made from limestone water and a special blend of sugar from a local sorghum farmer. Ninety-seven of the ninety-nine cups sold for $1000 each.
The remaining two cups, 1 and 99 in the series, have been adorned with one carat of diamonds and sapphires, again reproducing Secretariat’s silks. These two were auctioned online prior to the race. While we’re not yet sure how much these two cups brought in, we think it’s safe to assume that these two cups house the most expensive mint julep cups in the world.
