This year’s Woodford Reserve $1,000 Mint Julep Cup program honors Jockey Diane Crump, the first female to ride in The Kentucky Derby 50 years ago.
Crump rode Fathom in the 1970 Derby and, although the thoroughbred finished 15th, Crump rode into history. She lives in Virginia and remains involved in the horse industry.
A total of 146 julep cups — celebrating Derby 146 — went on sale yesterday (8/3) at woodfordreservemintjulep.com Cups numbered 1-25 are gold-plated (and sell for $2,500 each) while cups 26-146 are silver-plated (and sell for $1,000).
In years past, anyone who purchased a julep cup could only pick it up on Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Due to the global pandemic, the cups will be sent directly to consumers and Morris will conduct a virtual julep experience on Derby Day, which has been postponed this year to Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020.
Proceeds from the cup sales will be donated in Crump’s honor to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
The cups feature etchings of the jockey silks worn in 1970 by Crump, along with the Twin Spires of Churchill Downs. They are nestled in a walnut case with a replica of turquoise and white silks that Crump wore that historic day.
The cups have special meaning to Woodford Reserve and its parent company, Brown-Forman, which this year is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Fathom was owned by a Brown family member, W.L. Lyons Brown.
The cups were designed and handcrafted by From the Vault Jewelers in Louisville, Ky. and the silks for the walnut containers were made by Bourbon Cousins of Cincinnati.