From a meeting a few weeks ago:

Toby: “So I’m thinking for the Brag Photo this week, we can do________, or maybe ________?” (Like I’m going to tell you what we have lined up. I’d call that an industry secret.)

Kerri Kauffman: “We’ve got Smarty Jones’ hair in the building.”

Toby: “Huh?”

Kerri: “Smarty Jones. The horse. We’ve got his hair.”

For realsies. Kerri asked a few people, and shortly after, as I was typing away at my desk, I was presented with authentic, thoroughbred, big race winning horse hair.

I work at a VERY interesting place, that’s for sure. In case you didn’t know, Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2003, while Smarty Jones did the same in 2004.

2003 Champ: Funny Cide

2004 Champ: Smarty Jones

Of course, we have this hanging around the office for a reason (not just our Upper Deck horse cloning project, slated for a 2034 release). Following in our fine tradition of offering some seriously unique insert cards in our products, if you open a pack of 2009 Goodwin Champions Baseball (coming in September), you may discover one of these:

It’ll be one of the more unique items out on the market, and certainly not an item most companies have in their building.

Speaking of which, you guys should see what we have lined up next for the Brag Photo . . .