Bryan Smith/Bryan Smith
The most elusive trophy in sports actually got its own seat on the flight from Louisville, Ky., to New York on Tuesday morning. Since it usually rides in an overhead compartment, maybe this is some kind of omen.
'It had to be buckled in,' said Darren Rogers. 'And it did need an extender for the buckle.'
This three-sided sterling silver vase is not accompanied by a security team. It has no secret itinerary. Rogers, a Churchill Downs representative, provides the muscle, transportation and tender loving care. He is the current keeper of the Triple Crown Trophy, a bauble, about 15 inches wide, 15 inches tall weighing around 10 pounds, crafted by Cartier and commissioned in 1950.
Yes, Virgnia, there is one.
Presented only three times, the last in 1978 when Affirmed successfully completed the third leg, the TCT has led a lonely, sad existence. It has stood in Belmont's presentation area waiting to be hugged as a horse ran for Triple Crown glory, only to be abruptly whisked away and immediately sent packing back to its home in the Kentucky Derby Museum after another failed attempt.
'Quite honestly, it's been sitting around collecting dust for 36 years,' Rogers said. 'Either on public display at the museum or in a basement vault.'
How sad. Looking at this Triple Crown Trophy, you can almost hear it begging, pleading to California Chrome and its connections: 'Take me, please. Someone. Anyone. I'm lonely.' For this is a good trophy, an unpretentious trophy. Unlike the ritualistic Stanley Cup, always accompanied by its stoic NHL white-gloved guardians marching in lockstep, the TCT is not treated like sports royalty.
The devoted Rogers, who wears white gloves when handling the trophy, schleps it unceremoniously. During Saturday's Belmont telecast, NBC's cameras will not chronicle its arrival in the presentation area prior to the race, nor will Bob (Rapping Roberto) Costas, in reverential tones, wax poetic about its history, like voices do when Lord Stanley's Cup arrives to the delight of mesmerized fans in some arena.
Billy Rapaport, NBC's versatile field producer, who oversees all movements of horses, humans and trophies, in the winner's circle and presentation area, has worked four Triple Crown attempts at Belmont. The TCT routine is the same.
'This trophy doesn't get a lot of photo-ops. It's part of our Friday rehearsal. It's the only trophy in sports I'm aware of that makes an appearance and may never be presented,' Rapaport said. 'And all the (Triple Crown) attempts I was there for, it just went quietly back into its black box.'
Is this trophy so inconspicuous Costas might forget to introduce its presenter?
'No, because it's sitting right there,' Rapaport said. 'We rehearsed for it. There is no chance that would happen.'
Let there be no confusion here: while the TCT is the Greta Garbo of all sports trophies, it gets its share of love. When Rogers arrived at the Louisville Airport an hour and a half early for the TCT's flight here and took the trophy out of its case, passengers awaiting connections, and security personnel, were anxious to take a picture with it.
It does have some status, too.
'When I got to the gate the lady in charge looked at what I was carrying, gave me a tag, and said, 'Sir, you are going to have to check this.' I said, 'No, Maam, they were supposed to call you. I'm the gentleman with the Triple Crown Trophy.'
'And she says, 'Oh, you're the guy with the white gloves.''
The guy who cares plenty about the TCT, too. Caring comes in many forms, including anxiety and apprehension. Rogers gets no relaxation until he turns the trophy over to Belmont Park officials.
'My biggest nightmare has nothing to do with the flight. It's when I get the rental car and put the luggage and the trophy in the back,' he said. 'Then drive to the hotel. I keep the trophy in the room overnight. I start thinking about all the random scenarios that could happen and hope they don't.'
With the Belmont Stakes just a day away, the TCT's options are simple. If California Chrome loses, 'I will simply pick up the trophy, pack it up, and depart,' Rogers said.
'It's pretty simple.'
And many of the millions tuning in to NBC to see history won't even know the TCT was on the premises. If the horse wins, the TCT will finally bathe in the spotlight, squeezed tightly by Chrome's co-owner, the mustachioed Steve Coburn.
Oh, about that omen. Does the TCT, riding in style, getting its own seat on the plane, mean California Chrome will win the Belmont and the Triple Crown?
'No doubt there is a positive element there,' Rogers said. 'On the other hand, for those looking to handicap the other way, the people sitting in front of me and the trophy were the owners of Ride on Curlin.'
So if the Triple Crown Trophy could talk, guess it would offer those wagering on the race this advice:
Bet with your head. Not over it.
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