Antiques Roadshow

APPRAISER

So, John, you brought in this fabulous trophy, 1955 Kentucky Derby, Willie Shoemaker, the jockey, won by the horse Swaps. How did you get it and how did you know Willie Shoemaker?

GUEST

He was my father.

APPRAISER

Wow!

GUEST

Yeah, yeah.

APPRAISER

And you're how tall?

GUEST

I'm six foot tall.

APPRAISER

Okay.

GUEST

But I'm adopted. My sister and I were adopted.

APPRAISER

What do you remember about your dad's career? What stands out to you?

GUEST

Well, you know, he was my father, so that part didn't really mean much to me. I mean, I remember other things about my dad, playing basketball with John Wayne, you know, stuff like that. Those are the kinds of things I remember. I don't really remember much about his career.

APPRAISER

Sounds like a great guy.

GUEST

I liked him.

APPRAISER

And he was a fantastic jockey. When he was born, he was premature.

GUEST

Yes.

APPRAISER

And the story goes that his grandmother actually made... fashioned an incubator out of a shoe box and put him in it on the stove, basically.

GUEST

Opened the oven and put him on the oven door.

APPRAISER

And basically saved his life.

GUEST

Yeah, sure.

APPRAISER

He grew up, 4' 11"?

GUEST

4' 11".

APPRAISER

100 pounds?

GUEST

When he was heavy he was like 95 to 105.

APPRAISER

He rode for 50 years. Just an amazing career from your dad. And to have this trophy is absolutely fantastic. Now, if I was going to put a value on it- now, I do notice that the horse has left the barn here.

GUEST

Yes, yes, he has.

APPRAISER

He's left the top of this. That's easy enough, I think, that you can put that back on. But when we value the trophy, we look at the horse, which was Swaps, who was 1956 Horse of the Year. And we also look at the fact it was your dad's first Kentucky Derby win out of four. I would insure it for at least $25,000.

GUEST

Cool, very cool.