Thoroughbred folks love artwork. They love how work and sculptures depict racing historical past, legends, and larger-than-life moments. The 12th Annual Sporting Artwork Public sale held at Keeneland Gross sales Pavilion on Nov. 15 achieved many thrilling moments with a complete gross sales of $2,553,126. The guts of the public sale was the sale of LeRoy Neiman’s “To the Wire,” which introduced an public sale document value of $334,875!
The 1971 signed, oil on board portray depicts the thrilling second of horses charging to the end line. It’s a superb splash of coloration and motion. Neiman defined, “What’s extra dramatic than viewing a race alongside the rail or on the end? The horses thunder into the stretch. A roar surges from the followers. … The racing machines’ energy to excite will increase as a crescendo of high-voltage emotion passes by means of the grandstand,” to which universally race followers can relate.
The Sporting Artwork Public sale is a partnership between Cross Gate Gallery and Keeneland. “We’re thrilled with the outcomes of this 12 months’s Sporting Artwork Public sale,” stated Catherine Ladd Kenneally of Cross Gate Gallery. “Because the Sporting Artwork Public sale continues to flourish, we’re grateful for our partnership with Keeneland and the neighborhood’s continued assist.” Bidding drew collectors from seven nations. Seventy-five % of the 203 items provided had been offered. The public sale additionally featured searching, boating, canines, cattle, and landscapes.
An thrilling extension of the public sale this 12 months was prominently displayed on the Breeders’ Cup. Cross Gate Gallery introduced 160 items of artwork from Kentucky to Del Mar to be a part of the festivities together with Charles Church’s Del Mar paddock work, which had been featured fantastically on the 2024 Breeders’ Cup program covers and tickets.
Kentucky artist Judith Berkshire Jones attends the public sale yearly. “My favourite piece this 12 months was by Andre Pater. It has the sensation of a interval piece due to the type of clothes and the tack and saddle cloths getting used. Andre is one among right this moment’s modern sporting artwork masters depicting Thoroughbreds at their best.” His oil portray “To the Winner’s Circle” introduced the gavel down at $99,875.
“Charlie Whittingham & Sunday Silence,” by Russian-born artist Valeriy Gridnev, struck Alicia Hughes, director of communications for Ocala Breeders’ Sale Co. She stated, “I used to be so happy to see the oil on canvas of coach Charlie Whittingham together with his Corridor of Fame protege Sunday Silence. He was one of many first horses I fell in love with and, figuring out now what a difficult horse he may very well be together with his temperament, I like how this portray captures the belief and relationship Whittingham had with him. The straightforward gesture displayed of the coach providing his open hand and the delicate look on Sunday Silence’s face illustrates the depth of Whittingham’s horsemanship.” It offered for $11,750.
A surprising piece that drew numerous consideration was “The Derby, 1932,” by British artist Charles Cundall, which offered for $17,038. Cundall studied artwork and earned a scholarship to the Royal School of Artwork in 1912. His proper arm was wounded throughout World Conflict I and he needed to discover ways to paint together with his left arm. He’s recognized for his panoramic scenes and “The Derby” captures the magnificence of attending the Epsom Derby.
This 12 months, Cross Gate Gallery introduced the passing of British-born artist Peter Howell. “It’s with nice disappointment that we share the passing of gifted artist Peter Howell. He has been a cornerstone of Cross Gate Gallery for over 40 years. He was not solely a superb artist and horseman that perfected capturing mild in his work however the final gentleman.” The public sale featured eight of his beautiful work, together with “Palace Road, Displaying Palace Home Stables and Nell Gwyn’s Home,” which offered for $25,500.
A number of of America’s residing Thoroughbred legends had been highlighted. Esteemed water colorist Sandra Oppegard captured Gun Runner successful the Breeders’ Cup Traditional at Del Mar. The piece offered for $10,575 and is an instantaneous traditional.
Kentucky artist Jaime Corum’s portray “American Pharoah” captures his serene persona. She “was completely captivated with American Pharoah when he gained the Grand Slam of racing [in 2015]. I used to be amazed at how he did it — with such ease in his completely environment friendly ‘plain brown wrapper’ of a physique. His persona intrigued me, too, listening to how sort and calm he was. My portray was completed proper after he retired to stud. He’s proven nonetheless racing match, with the neck of a colt relatively than the stallion we all know right this moment. I just like the simplicity of the black background paired together with his considerate gaze off into some unknown distance, maybe remembering the glory of the monitor and figuring out his price.”
Occasionally there’s a portray that sparks a bidding conflict. This 12 months, it was fairly spirited as bidders sought to buy American artist Lee Townsend’s “Monday Public sale.” Initially estimated within the $5,000 to $7,000 vary, it offered for $82,250. The portray depicts a beautiful horse with a flaxen mane being admired at a livestock public sale. Townsend labored in his brother’s livery steady and studied on the Artwork Institute of Chicago. After a visit to Paris in 1927, he devoted himself to horse racing.
Vietnamese/American artist Quang Ho has continued his love of Thoroughbred horses by portray particular moments on the monitor. In describing his portray “To the Begin,” he stated: “I attempt to seize the momentary calm earlier than the explosion – earlier than all the colours turn out to be a blur because the horses explode out of the gates.” His portray offered for $29,375.
Corum has been portray a sequence she calls “4 Seasons,” the place an equine topic represents every season. This 12 months she provided “Season of Summer time” and explains “the season is represented by a fiery chestnut stallion frolicking in a whimsical and luxurious summer time panorama. His mane flies upwards from his play just like the radiating warmth of the solar. He’s named ‘Roi Soleil’ (Solar King) on his halter plate. The panorama is impressed by a mixture of old-world tapestry with an overlay of impressionistic coloration within the bushes, grasses, and flowers.”
“Roi Soleil is loosely primarily based on the Hill ’n’ Dale stallion Curlin. I had the pleasure of portray two murals of the mighty Curlin this 12 months and was fortunate sufficient to remain at Hill ’n’ Dale Farm at Xalapa all through the completion of the murals. There isn’t any doubt that among the magic of that summer time discovered its method into this portray.”
The yearly success of the Sporting Artwork Public sale demonstrates the energy and love that the Thoroughbred neighborhood has for the artwork that captures the eagerness of horse racing.
“The power at this 12 months’s Sporting Artwork public sale was palpable,” Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin stated. “It was thrilling to see so many artwork lovers and collectors collect in our pavilion, sharing their enthusiasm and keenness.” Keeneland is dedicated to philanthropy with a share of public sale proceedings going to assist non-profit initiatives.
Proudly owning a bit of artwork is akin to having a bit of historical past in your life. The artists of the previous captured the horses that we will solely examine. The artists of right this moment are portray the classics of tomorrow for future horse racing admirers. The Sporting Artwork Public sale offers one an opportunity to admire racing’s historical past, honor present racing legends, and respect all of the aspects that make horse racing and Thoroughbreds so colourful.
