As per usual,
Everyone here focuses on the coins and not the sports related figurine. The last photo is one of the nicest examples of early horse racing trading memorabilia. I have yet to see one in prestine condition such as yours. The jockey is Carmine Fongelli depicted with the horse he raced for four years, Pickard's "Short of Leg, Long in Spirit". "Spirit"'s career had a rocky beginning. Had it not been for Pickard's blossoming senility and a 53% stake in the horse racing league, spectators may have only seen one race with "Spirit" bringing in the rear. Later and more commonly known by fans as the Hoofless Hampton Hurricane (making reference to Pickard's being from the Hamptons), his only true historical significance was that he went 0-73 during his career and still maintains the longest winless streak in history. Often we praise the winners as heroes, but fail to cheer for the one that never gives up and just keeps trying no matter the odds against them. (Speaking of odds, "Spirit"'s 388,177 to 1 also remains in the history books.) "Spirit" was the ultimate underdog.
"Spirit" was retired in 1939. Two years later, at owner Pickard's funeral, Fongelli expounded on his time with "Spirit" and his career. Fongelli told reporters that after "Spirit", he couldn't get the crowd's attention "and the whole sport became about winning. With Spirit, I may have never won a race and I may have never gone very fast but you sure could enjoy the scenery."
I'd place that figurine as being around 1941-42. Most were melted down during the second World War for bullets and dental fillings.
It get a nice shadow box made up for that, that's a museum piece.
