vctenderness,
Exactly the same thing happens within the flat racing horse fraternity.
I was once assigned as Director of a film crew working in Newmarket on a racing documentary, during which Sheik Diddly Do's horse won a race. Lacky duly appears and hands out gold Rolexes to stable lads, trainer etc. and mistook me and my cameraman for part of their team. My Rolex (apparently worth £10,000 at the time, but with the face, only about £7,000) was duly dispatched to the Rolex shop for a new face. It cost me £900 and that was back in 1985!