The 1985 Preakness Stakes, one leg of horse racing’s prized Triple Crown, was the 110th running of the thoroughbred horse race at the Pimlico Race Course in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The one-mile-and-three-sixteenths dirt race took place on May 18, 1985, and was televised on ABC-TV. “Tank's Prospect,” who was jockeyed by Pat Day, won the race by a head over runner-up and favorite “Chief's Crown.” The official winning time was 1:53-2/5 and the purse earnings totaled $423,200. Bred by Edward A. Seltzer, Tank’s Prospect was purchased for $625,000 at the 1983 Keeneland July Selected Yearling sale by trainer D. Wayne Lukas for his client, Eugene Klein. Klein named the horse after Paul "Tank" Younger, a former NFL player and executive with Klein's San Diego Chargers football team. Klein, who led a group of investors to purchase the San Diego Chargers in 1966, not only was the majority owner but also served as the team's president and head of operations.
This lot features the 22-inch tall sterling silver trophy that was awarded that day to Tank’s Prospect’s owners. A magnificently crafted, three-tiered trophy, its elegant design features a pair of sterling silver
horses and one foal on its base followed by a mid-level area adorned by four angels holding up celebratory wreaths that includes special engraving that reads: “THE PREAKNESS PIMLICO MAY 18, 1885” on one panel and “WON BY TANK’S PROSPECT OWNER MR. & MRS. EUGENE V. KLEIN” on the opposite side. The top of the trophy features a single thoroughbred standing proudly with its rider on board.
Includes Letter of Provenance from the San Diego Hall of Champions.