Race Horse, Chestnut

Here's something you don't see every day! 

One of Breyer's earliest models, the Race Horse was sculpted by Chris Hess in 1954.  It is believed he based it on a wood carving of Kentucky Derby winner Whirlaway.  This is even more plausible when you realize that for its first four years, Breyer called the model "Derby Winner."  It was then changed to "Race Horse" until its retirement in 1967.  The model is smaller than most Traditionals and is much more stylized, without muscling.  Although supposedly a portrait of Whirlaway, the model has no male parts, so is often considered a mare today. She is a warm chestnut with body color mane and tail, airbrushed bald face and socks (number and location vary).  She most often came with a snap-on girth racing saddle, and wears a molded-on black halter.

She is in Excellent condition, marked down for a hairline showing on the seam of her back.  I can't decide if it is a very superficial split or just an uneven spot in the seam that paint didn’t reach.  I'm erring on the side of a very superficial split that has no depth past the paint layer.  Other than that, she has only a couple of tiny black marks on her left side, a tiny rub on her tail and tiny eartip rubs.   She has a tiny dirty area on her back which may clean off, and the marks may clean off as well.  She displays beautifully and is a neat vintage addition that we rarely see these days.

Size:  Traditional

Breyer Model #36