How to Buy Kentucky Derby Beanie Babies

Kentucky Derby Beanie Babies were created to commemorate the annual event at Churchill Downs. It's a series, honoring winning horses such as Smarty Jones, Street Sense and Barbaro. There are two versions of the Beanie Babies. One, made exclusively for Churchill Downs to sell and the other for other stores.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Buy through the Kentucky Derby Museum gift shop. It's located at Gate One of Churchill Downs or online (see resources below). The official Derby 133 comes with a Churchill Downs Store hang tag and a licensed hologram.
2. Know that the Beanie Baby you'll buy through the Derby museum varies from those on the mass market. The Museum Beanie has an official Derby 133 logo on one side of the saddle cloth and a Churchill Downs logo on the other side. Those made for other stores has the Derby 133 logo on both sides.
3. Travel to Louisville, Kentucky, the home of the Kentucky Derby. There are several shops downtown that carry Derby memorabilia, ranging from art work to toys.
4. Go online to the Kentucky Derby's official catalog. There you can find Beanie Babies, including Kentucky Derby 132 (see resources below). You can buy one for $8 if you're a member and $9 if you're not.
5. Search online for other companies or auction sites that carry the Derby Beanie Babies. They stand 7" tall and 8" long and run about $8. You can find Derby 133 and a Beanie that was made as a tribute to Barbaro, the horse that won the 2006 Derby.
6. Make sure the tag is still attached. That will ensure you that it is, indeed, made by Ty.