Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington, Kentucky will host the inaugural Racing Memorabilia Auction on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, featuring rare items from the personal collection of the late Hall of Fame trainer John Shirreffs, including the original bridle worn by the champion mare Zenyatta throughout her racing career.
The auction, reported by Yahoo Sports on Oct. 15, will run both online and live at the gallery. Proceeds will go to Breeders' Cup Charities, The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and Old Friends Retirement Farm, in line with Shirreffs' stated wish that his collection be shared with the public and benefit the racing community.
Who was John Shirreffs and why his collection matters
Shirreffs trained Zenyatta, owned by Anne and Jerry Moss, across her entire racing career. The mare won 19 of 20 starts, took the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic and was voted champion Older Female three consecutive years, from 2008 to 2010. After retiring to Lane's End Farm, she was named 2010 Horse of the Year and became the first recipient of the Secretariat 'Vox Populi' Award.
Shirreffs died on Feb. 12, 2026, at his home in Arcadia, California. According to Yahoo Sports, he had already begun dispersing pieces of his collection before his death, with the specific intention that the memorabilia reach the general public rather than remain in private hands.
In a 2023 interview with Mike Penna of the Horse Racing Radio Network, Shirreffs called Zenyatta's bridle his 'most cherished piece of Zenyatta memorabilia.'
What will be up for bidding on Dec. 3
The centerpiece of the Shirreffs collection is Zenyatta's original bridle, bit and reins, worn throughout her racing career. The sale also includes the mare's race-worn blue and white diamond browband, which appeared on the cover of the Zenyatta Commemorative Collector's Issue published by The Blood-Horse.
Further lots include the original 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic embroidered morning saddlecloth and the associated 'Champion' winner's blanket, Zenyatta's original leather halter, training and race-worn shoes, and her Hollywood Park numbered stall plate and interior wooden stall board. Shirreffs personally collected and saved those Hollywood Park items just before the racetrack closed, along with the track's original Zenyatta street sign.
Beyond Zenyatta, the auction covers pieces from other horses Shirreffs trained: 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, 2009 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Life Is Sweet and 2007 Santa Anita Derby winner Tiago. Shirreffs was also a racing history enthusiast, and his personal artifacts include a race-worn shoe from Whirlaway's 1941 Belmont Stakes victory, which completed that horse's Triple Crown sweep, and a shoe worn by five-time Horse of the Year Kelso in his 1965 Whitney Stakes win.
Family and Breeders' Cup respond
Dottie Shirreffs, the trainer's widow, said the sale continues a process her husband had already begun.
John so loved our sport and referred to our time with Zenyatta as 'Camelot,' said Dottie Shirreffs. 'To share special pieces from Zenny's thrilling and historic time with us has always been John's wish and we started doing so some time ago. This auction represents the continuation of John's vision, and what an honor it is to share his collection with her beloved fans and admirers.'
She added that the charitable giving resulting from the pieces will benefit organizations that assist the horses and humans devoted to the sport.
John Keitt, chief operating officer of Breeders' Cup Limited, framed the auction as both a tribute and a practical act of giving.
John Shirreffs' legacy is defined not only by his extraordinary accomplishments as a horseman, but by the humility and generosity he brought to our sport, said John Keitt, chief operating officer of Breeders' Cup Limited. 'Zenyatta delivered some of the most unforgettable moments in Breeders' Cup history, and these treasured pieces represent her remarkable story.'
How the proceeds will be used
The beneficiaries reflect the needs the racing industry has acknowledged most openly in recent years. The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund provides financial assistance to riders who suffered catastrophic injuries on the track. Old Friends Retirement Farm, based in Georgetown, Kentucky, offers a permanent home to retired Thoroughbreds, including former stallions whose racing and breeding careers have ended.
Breeders' Cup Charities channels donations toward equine welfare and human services programs connected to the sport. The decision to direct the Shirreffs collection toward these three organizations matches the trainer's own priorities, according to the family.
Public viewing and Breeders' Cup week preview
Selected items from the collection are already available for public viewing at Cross Gate Gallery in Lexington. A special preview will take place on Oct. 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at 325 W. Main Street in Lexington, timed to coincide with the official Breeders' Cup week festivities.
The preview forms part of The Racing Memorabilia Auction Speaker Series. The event, titled 'Zenyatta: The Treasures of A Queen,' will feature Dottie Shirreffs as special guest, offering an insider's account of Zenyatta and her late husband's training of the champion, along with the backstories of the auction items on display.
Information on the auction and speaker series is available at theracingmemorabiliaauction.com. Inquiries can be directed to Jackie LeMastus at jackiel@crossgategallery.com or 502.554.6403.
Frequently asked questions
When and where does the Racing Memorabilia Auction take place?
The inaugural Racing Memorabilia Auction presented by Cross Gate Gallery takes place on Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026, both online and live at the gallery in Lexington, Kentucky.
What is the most notable item in the Shirreffs collection?
Zenyatta's original bridle, bit and reins, worn throughout her racing career, highlight the sale. John Shirreffs described the bridle in 2023 as his most cherished piece of Zenyatta memorabilia.
Which charities will receive the auction proceeds?
Proceeds will benefit Breeders' Cup Charities, The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and Old Friends Retirement Farm, along with other non-profit organizations Shirreffs supported.
Can the public see the items before the sale?
Yes. Selected pieces are on view at Cross Gate Gallery, and a special preview with Dottie Shirreffs is scheduled for Oct. 29 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at 325 W. Main Street in Lexington during Breeders' Cup week.