Collections Connections

  • Audience: Ages 8 and up


Collections Connections uses objects from the Museum's collections to connect youths to the horses, people, and places of the sport's past and present. Virtual series segments, designed for learners ages 8 and up, spotlight myriad stories from the rich history of thoroughbred racing. This program is made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

The Racehorse Simulator

The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame's Racehorse Simulator

Description: In this week's Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel demonstrates one of the most unique and exciting items in the Museum, our authentic thoroughbred racing simulator. Try it out for yourself at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame!
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Racing Simulator - YouTube

Breeders' Cup trophy

Sunday Silence's Breeders' Cup Classic trophy

Description: In this week's Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel celebrates this year's Breeders' Cup by looking at the event's coveted trophy.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Breeders' Cup trophy - YouTube

Sunny Jim's chair

Chair owned by Hall of Fame trainer James "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons 

About: In this episode of Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel dives into the legendary career of James "Sunny Jim" Fitzsimmons, the Hall of Famer of two Triple Crown winners
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Sunny Jim's chair - YouTube

The Big Red Spring

The Big Red Spring at Saratoga Race Course

About: In this episode of Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel talks about one of the more surprising items in our collection: Big Red Spring, the famous spring at Saratoga Race Course.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Big Red Spring - YouTube

Fort Marcy

Fort Marcy sculpture, by John Skeaping

About: In this episode of Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel dives into one of Paul Mellon's greatest horses, Hall of Fame member Fort Marcy. You can find this sculpture and many more incredible items in the Museum's newest exhibition, The Passions of Paul Mellon: Horses, Art, and Philanthropy.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Fort Marcy - YouTube

Artist Thomas Percy Earl and the English Grand National 

The English Grand National, by Thomas Percy Earl

About: In this episode of Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel highlights some recently conserved paintings by renowned artist Thomas Percy Earl that showcase one of Europe's premier races: the Grand National Steeplechase.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - English Grand National - YouTube

Saratoga centennial sign

Saratoga centennial sign

About: In this week's Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel celebrates a century of racing at Saratoga and highlights one of the museum's past presidents, Charles Mather II.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Saratoga Centennial - YouTube

The Belmont Trophy

Count Fleet's Belmont Stakes Trophy

About: In this week's Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel talks about the Belmont Stakes and two trophies associated with the legendary race.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Belmont Trophy - YouTube

Robert Clark's "SPAtacular"

Robert Clark's SPAtacular

About: In this week's Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel talks about a unique sculpture in our collection and how it reflects the rich history of racing in Saratoga.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Spatacular - YouTube

New York racetrack posters

Aqueduct track poster from the Musuem's collection

About: In this week's Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel dives into some new items in our collection: a series of promotional subway posters for New York's Aqueduct and Belmont Park racetracks. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Racetrack posters - YouTube

Penny Chenery

Penny Chenery's digital Hall of Fame plaque at the National Musuem of Racing 

About: For Women's History Month, Museum educator Matt Reichel talks about Penny Chenery and her monumental impact on the sport of thoroughbred racing. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Penny Chenery - YouTube

Janet Elliot

Janet Elliot's digital Hall of Fame plaque at the National Museum of Racing

About: For Women's History Month, Museum educator Matt Reichel highlights the amazing career of Janet Elliot, the first woman trainer to ever be inducted into our Hall of Fame. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Janet Elliot - YouTube

Anthony Hamilton

Anthony Hamilton, from The American Turf, 1898 (Museum Collection)

About: In this episode of Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel delves into the fascinating story of Hall of Fame jockey Anthony Hamilton, who dominated racetracks across America during the 1880s.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Anthony Hamilton - YouTube

The First Futurity

The First Futurity (Museum Collection)

About: In this episode of Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel talks about the inaugural running of the Futurity Stakes in 1888, and the impact of Black jockeys on the sport. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - First Futurity - YouTube

James McLaughlin

James McLaughlin (Museum Collection)

About: In this week's Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel goes back in time to examine the legendary career of James McLaughlin, one of horse racing's first superstar jockeys and a member of the inaugural Hall of Fame class of 1955.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - James McLaughlin - YouTube

Man o' War

Man o' War memorabilia (Museum Collection)

About: In this week's Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel reflects on one of the best racehorses to ever live, 1957 Hall of Fame inductee Man o' War (Photos and videos from the Museum's collection)
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Man o' War - YouTube

Lady's Secret

Lady's Secret memorabilia (Museum Collection)

About: In this week's Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel talks about a tiny filly and daughter of Secretariat who beat the odds — the great Lady's Secret (Photos and videos from NYRA and the museum collection)
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Lady's Secret - YouTube

James Ben Ali Haggin

James Ben Ali Haggin (Museum Collection)

About: In this week's Collections Connections, museum educator Matt Reichel takes a closer look at a portrait depicting influential owner/breeder James Ben Ali Haggin, a 2022 Hall of Fame inductee as a Pillar of the Turf.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - James Ben Ali Haggin - YouTube

Against All Odds

"Against All Odds" statue (Museum Collection)

About: In this week's Collections Connections, we take a closer look at one of the newest items in the Museum's collection and delve into the fascinating story of Hall of Famer John Henry
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Against All Odds - YouTube

1974 Kentucky Derby program with Angel Cordero, Jr.

Angel Cordero, Jr. and the 1974 Kentucky Derby program (Matt Reichel)

About: In this edition of Collections Connections, we are joined by a very special guest! Legendary jockey and Hall of Famer Angel Cordero, Jr. takes a look at the Kentucky Derby program from 1974, when he won his first of three editions of the Kentucky Derby with Cannonade.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - 1974 Kentucky Derby program - YouTube

Angel Cordero, Jr. and the 1969 Gallant Fox Handicap Trophy

Angel Cordero, Jr. and the 1969 Gallant Fox Handicap Trophy (Matt Reichel)

About: In this edition of Collections Connections, we are joined by a very special guest! Legendary jockey and Hall of Famer Angel Cordero, Jr. showcases the trophy for the Gallant Fox Handicap, won by him in 1969 aboard the horse Ship Leave.
Click here for video: Collections Connections - 1969 Gallant Fox Handicap Trophy - YouTube

John Skeaping's Secretariat

Secretariat, by John Skeaping (Museum Collection)

About: In this week's episode of Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel talks about John Skeaping's iconic statue of 1973 Triple Crown winner and Hall of Fame member Secretariat. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Skeaping's Secretariat - YouTube

Artist John Wootton

A Newmarket scene, by John Wootten (Museum Collection)

About: In this week's episode of Collections Connections, Museum educator Matt Reichel talks about the oldest painting in our collection and one of the most influential sporting artists of the 18th century. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Wootton - YouTube

Pimlico Race Course 1870 gate

Pimlico Race Course gate (Museum Collection)

About: In this Collections Connections segment, Museum educator Matt Reichel talks about the historic Pimlico Race Course gate on the Museum property. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Pimlico gate - YouTube

Sergeant Murphy

Sargeant Murphy (Museum Collection)

About: In this Collections Connections segment, Museum educator Matt Reichel talks about Hall of Fame member Seabiscuit and related items from the Museum Collection. 
Click here for video: Collections Connections - Sargeant Murphy - YouTube

Seabiscuit memorabilia

Seabiscuit memorabilia (Museum Collection) 

 

 

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