Sign, Sports, Horses, Race Ponies, American, Mid 20th Century (Sold)

Caution Race Ponies
Gordon Button, Mid 20th Century
Painted cast aluminum sign
6 x 14 inches, overall

A cast-aluminum rectangular sign with red letters painted on a white background reading “CAUTION / RACE PONIES” and with a hole in each corner for hanging. Race ponies or track ponies are typically retired racehorses utilized to accompany younger thoroughbreds while they are being trained. The sign could also refer to small, agile horses used in youth-level racing. The sign would presumably be posted to warn visitors to stand back from approaching horses. The bold, red upper case letters emphasize urgency. In the lower center, the name “Gordon Button” is cast in small letters. Button might have been a sign maker by trade and/or a foundry for metal casting. The reference to race ponies in such a sign is rare; we have located no other extant examples.