A priceless collection of trophies vanished from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in less than three minutes.

The Saratoga police arrived at the museum less than a minute after being notified by the museum’s alarm company on Thursday, September 12. The burglar, who wore a ski masks and dark clothing was gone and so was horse racing history. The stolen trophies are: 1903 Belmont Stakes, 1923 Grand National Steeplechase, 1905 Saratoga Special, 1914 Brook Cup Steeplechase, 1903 Brighton Cup.

“In and out,” said Saratoga Springs Police Lt. John Catone. “This is a traditional-style smash and grab.”

The thief first hit the museum’s steeplechase gallery, nabbing the 1914 Brook Cup Handicap Steeplechase Trophy won by Compliment and the 1923 Grand National Steeplechase Trophy won by Sergeant Murphy. Moments later, he entered the post-Civil War gallery, raiding a case that contained the 1903 Belmont Stakes Trophy won by Africander, the 1903 Brighton Cup Trophy won by Hermis and the 1905 Saratoga Special Trophy won by Mohawk II — a horse bred at the Sanford Stud Farm.

The museum is now trying to determine an exact value of the trophies, three of which were solid gold. But any appraisal of the lost items won’t reflect the unique history of each, said Christopher Dragone, the museum’s director.

“These trophies are irreplaceable,” he said in a statement. “We are saddened by this unfortunate event and hopeful that the investigation leads to the apprehension of the individual or individuals who committed this crime and the return of the trophies.”

On Friday, a 12-inch gash remained on the door where the thief apparently used a device in an attempt to cut through its thick glass. At some point, he apparently abandoned the operation and pushed the door open, triggering the perimeter alarm that notified police.

The trophies taken were kept with about a half-dozen others in the two cases. The burglary was captured on some of the 16 cameras inside and around the building, but Lt. Catone declined to discuss the footage.

The robbery occurred less than nine months after another horse racing museum in the state was struck by thieves. In mid-December, the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen was robbed of 14 pieces valued at more than $300,000, including an 18-karat Memphis Gold Challenge Cup won in 1902 and sterling silver Faberge soup tureen and ladle given to an American by Russian Czar Nicholas II in 1912. That case remains unsolved.

Lt. Catone said the precious metals in the trophies are probably valuable enough that the thief could net hundreds of thousands of dollars just by melting them down. He’s hoping publicity surrounding the case helps to apprehend the burglar before the historical artifacts vanish forever.

“We want this to go national,” he said. “We want as many people as possible to be looking for these.”