LOUISVILLE, Ky. — For store owner Steve Witt, the entire year revolves around the most exciting two minutes in sports.

Witt owns KY Derby Sports and Memorabilia in Louisville. He says the only place you’ll find more Derby collectables is at the Kentucky Derby Museum itself.

Witt has every mint julep glass dating back to 1940 in stock, along with many other valuable Derby cups and glasses. He even has his own mini-museum he’s dubbed, “Churchill Alley.”

As a Derby glass expert, Witt says glasses with misprints or unusual characteristics generally end up selling for more.

The glass from 2020 will eventually be one of those, he predicts.

“146 is a piece of history in its own right because this is—what a lot of people don’t realize—this is a short print glass because of the pandemic,” he explained.

2020’s glass also has the original May date printed on it, even though that Derby was moved to September.

With 2022’s mint julep glass, there is a noticeable difference.

There’s no winner listed for the 2021 Run for the Roses. That line was left blank because the controversy over who the winner was, Medina Spirit or Mandaloun, still wasn’t decided by the time designers sent off the glass for printing last year.

Witt says it could eventually be a valuable glass for a collector to have, but not likely any time soon.

“This particular year, because they made 700,000+, it’s going to take a little while,” Witt said, explaining why the 2022 glasses aren’t in short supply.

For Witt, the reward is in customers’ smiles, rather than price tags on glasses.

“A lot of people call me the Derby Picker,” he said. “I like to put it in someone else’s hands, and when I see the expression on that person’s face, that they’ve added a special piece to their collection, then I’ve done my job.”