Coach Wesley Ward said his family is “devastated” following the theft of 12 boxes of gold Royal Ascot trophies from his home on February 8 in Versailles, Ky.
Ward has become a key figure at Royal Ascot since hitting a juvenile double with Tiger fight and Jealousy again on his first visit to the meeting in 2009 and last year he added to his itinerary with Campanelle success of the Commonwealth Cup (G1).
Trophies include the one given to Ward by the Queen after he won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (G1) with Not made yet in 2015, with the coach stating the six-figure possible value of the items paled in comparison to their sentimental value.
“I’m pretty disappointed by it all,” Ward said on February 9. “It’s been a huge loss for my family and future generations of my family. My son Riley, who was there. during his time in Ascot, was devastated.
“Replacing them would be very expensive but for someone to sell, I’m not sure what they would be worth – that’s really their sentimental value.
“They are beautiful boxes engraved with the horse’s name, including the one I received from the Queen when I won the Undrafted, a memory that my children and I will never forget.”
Ward received the notification at 10:53 a.m. ET on Tuesday from a remote camera inside his home with a screenshot of an individual wearing a yellow jacket who is believed to be responsible. about the theft. The image does not show the person’s face.
The trainer said other valuables, such as laptops, were not stolen, with a trophy for Judy the Beauty The only other DraftKings Breeders (G1) Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Cup was pictured alongside the Royal Ascot trophy boxes.
Ward’s near-annual visits to Royal Ascot have become a feature of the meeting since Strike the Tiger’s victory and J envy again. He was particularly strong in Queen Mary (G2) with four winners (Jealous again, Acapulco , Lady Aurelia and Campanelle) and often successfully collaborated with Frankie Dettori.
“I don’t understand why they’re taking them because I can’t tell who’s going to buy them,” Ward added. “It’s really upsetting because they’re so important to my family.”
An investigation into the theft has been opened by the Versailles police department, with detective Steve Sparkman at the helm of the case. Anyone with information to police regarding the theft of the trophies can contact them at 859-509-0991 or 859-873-3126, citing case number 2022-02-046.
