These final days of summer have got me mixing up my last batches of hot weather cocktails, including my favorite, the Mint Julep. It's not just for quaffing at horse races, but always appropriate to drink out of a sterling silver cup. Even better when that cup has some wonderful history behind it!
This American Sterling Silver Mint Julep Cup commemorates the victory of 3-year-old colt Vicar Hanover in the 1964 Little Brown Jug harness race in Delaware County, Ohio. Vicar Hanover was quite a horse, as Sports illustrated noted at the time (From "Vicar Won On Three Legs," October 5, 1964):
Vicar has more heart than horse sense to race as well as he does. "Some mornings," Trainer Haughton admits, "he walks out looking like he has a broken leg." And Vicar's broken legs are not confined to morning walks. Bothered by a calcium deposit in an ankle joint, the tough son of the 1957 Jug winner Torpid (and grandson of two other Jug winners) has been hurting for a year. He often returns from a prerace warmup lame, and track veterinarians run to see if he is fit to perform. Their worry usually is unjustified. Vicar Hanover gives the public its money's worth and frequently a dividend as well.
The cup is made by the Trees Silver Co. of Lexington, Kentucky. Mr. Trees was a jeweler who began making these English style beakers in the 1950s and they became a favorite of the horse racing set to commemorate the winners. This mint julep cup is adorned with an applied figural horse head and is engraved with the title “VICAR HANOVER” and “LITTLE BROWN JUG 1964”. It is hallmarked with a stamp of a tree, TREES and STERLING. Excellent Patina. Perfect Condition. The beaker measures 3 ¾ in. tall and 2 7/8 in. in diameter at its mouth. 4.5 Troy ounces. Very good condition. For more information on this wonderful piece, click here.
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