About Cross Gate Gallery and The Racing Memorabilia Auction

Founded in 1974 in Lexington, Kentucky—the Horse Capital of the World—Cross Gate Gallery has earned an international reputation as one of the world's premier destinations for fine sporting and equestrian art. For more than five decades, the gallery has specialized in exceptional paintings and sculpture spanning from important 19th-century masters to today's leading contemporary sporting artists, serving distinguished collectors, Thoroughbred owners, breeders, racing organizations, and equestrian enthusiasts around the globe.

Building on this legacy of excellence, Cross Gate Gallery proudly presents the inaugural Racing Memorabilia Auction. This exciting new annual event showcases an extraordinary collection of rare horse racing trophies, awards, and memorabilia from the sport's most celebrated racehorses, owners, breeders, jockeys, horses, and champions. Curated with the same commitment to quality and authenticity that has defined Cross Gate Gallery for over 50 years, The Racing Memorabilia Auction offers collectors an unparalleled opportunity to own remarkable pieces of Thoroughbred racing history while celebrating the people, traditions, and achievements that have shaped the Sport of Kings.

The auction will also feature important trophies and memorabilia representing a myriad of racing’s most recognizable names including items emanating from the personal collections of Hall of Fame jockeys Braulio Baeza, Bill Hartack, and Chris McCarron and their associated mounts aboard Buckpasser, Dr, Fager, John Henry and more. 

Each of the notable pieces in the auction originating from their closest connections, offer fans and collectors a deeply personal connection paying tribute to some of the greatest Thoroughbreds in racing history. 

The inaugural Racing Memorabilia Auction will also have a philanthropic component with the sale of select items to benefit a number of equine-related causes and organizations including Breeders’ Cup Charities, Old Friends, and the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America.

The auction is scheduled to take place at Cross Gate Gallery’s downtown location at 431 Old Vine St. with both live and online bidding formats. Advance viewing of auction items will be available leading up to the event, and beginning this fall,  the gallery will host a series of speaker’s events sharing the stories connected with featured auction items and the rich history of the horses and horsemen they represent.  Gallery advance viewing and absentee proxy bidding will be  available with more details and speaker schedule to be announced.