Justify Drawings

Justify II Drawing

This drawing is from a portrait by Delaney Witbrod, photographer for Thoroughbred Insider and Eclipse Sportswire. 

 Justify Drawing

My first drawing of Justify was from a photo by Penelope Miller from Americas Best Racing. She has become a friend over the years, and I have used numerous photos of hers for drawings. This photo was moments after Justify had won the Triple Crown and Jockey Mike Smith grabbed the sponge and gave the Champion a cooling splash.

 With Penelope Miller at the Belmont Stakes

Jacob and I in our Justify Crowns at the Belmon Stakes

The highlight of this Horse Racing Season for Jacob and I was definately seeing Justify win the Belmont Stakes to become the 13th Triple Crown Winner!

Saratoga 2018 149th Travers Stakes

 August 25,2018 Jacob and I took a road trip to Saratoga Race Track for the 149th Travers Stakes

 Jacob with a Hattie's Chicken Sandwich

 Abel Tasman in the Paddock

Race 7 on the card was the G1 Personal Ensign Stakes for Fillies and Mares three years old and upward. Jacob and I had seen Abel Tasman, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike Smith win on the Belmont Stakes card earlier in the Summer. 

 Abel Tasman with Mike Smith in the irons during the Post Parade

 Abel Tasman entering Winners Circle

Winners Circle, Abel Tasman with Mike Smith in the irons

 Catholic Boy in the Paddock

Eventual winner of the Travers Stakes was Catholic Boy, Trained by Jonathan Thomas, and ridden by Jockey Javier Castellano.

Monmouth Park 2018 Haskell Invitational

 July 29,2018 Lauren, Jacob and I went to Monmouth Park for the Haskell Invitational "The War at the Shore"

 It was nice for Jacob and I to see Jockey Victor Carrasco our friend from the Laurel Park Jockey Colony

 Victor Carrasco Drawing

 Good Magic

The eventual winner of the Haskell Invitational was the heavy favorite Good Magic, trained by Chad Brown with Jose Ortiz in the irons. Good Magic was the first horse to break his maiden at the Breeders Cup when he won the 2017 Breeders Cup Juvenile. This year he finished second to Justify in the Kentucky Derby. Justify went on the win the Triple Crown.

Lauren and Jacob watching the days races. 

Belmont Stakes June 9,2018

On June 9,2018 Jacob and I went to Belmont Park in Elmont, New York 

The highlight of the day would be the running of the 150th Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown Series. 

When we arrived, we were given foam crowns for the horse Justify, and his attempt to win the 13th Triple Crown in history. Justify had won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, and the Preakness Stakes. 

 Jacob and I during the days races

 During the day I got to see a number of people that I have gotten to be friends with over the last couple years. One of those is my special friend Bethann. She is the only woman Bugler in the history of the Triple Crown Series, and has played the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes a number of times now. 

 Penelope Miller is the Senior Manager for Americas Best Racing, and a wonderful Equine Photographer. She has given me image use permission for drawings on a number of her wonderful shots. 

 It was an absolute pleasure to meet Barbara Livingston. Nobody who follows racing does not know the photography of Barbara. Insanely talented herself, Jacob was very proud when she told him, "Your Dad is very talented" referring to my artwork which she is familiar.

 One of the races during the day was the Ogden Phipps Handicap. The race, a Grade 1, is contested on dirt at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares 4 years and up. Abel Tasman, trained by Bob Baffert, and with Mike Smith in the irons was one of the favorites. 

 When the race was over, Abel Tasman has won the race by 7  lengths. This photo was entering Winners Circle, with Bob Baffert in the foreground. 

 It was finally time for the Belmont Stakes. This photo is Justify approaching the gates. Justify, like Abel Tasman is also trained by Bob Baffer, and also ridden by Mike Smith. 

 And their off in the 150th Belmont Stakes!

 Justify coming to the wire in the lead to become the 13 Triple Crown Winner! 

 Justify is only the second horse to win the Triple Crown undefeated. The only other horse to do that was Seattle Slew. 

 Un-raced at 2, Justify's unbeated career was completed in  112 days, 6 races on 4 different tracks.

Jockey Mike Smith in Winners Circle

Freehold Raceway Jan. 20,2018

 On a pretty January day, I went by myself to Freehold Raceway in Freehold NJ. 

 Freehold Raceway is the oldest racetrack in the United States. Horses began racing there informally there in the 1830's, and 1854 officially. Today the half mile track hosts two meets a year for harness racing.

The tracks most notable race is the Cane pace. That race is the first leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers, along with the Little Brown Jug, and the Messenger Stakes.

 Each race on the cards are one mile. Horses follow the pace car, and then do two full laps on the half mile track.

 Winners Circle

Winx 2017

Winx Drawing

Winx is a Champion Australian mare who was foaled on Sept. 14,2011. Since May of 2015 she has won 22 consecutive races. In 2016 she was voted Worlds Best Ranked Filly or Mare, and also Worlds Top Ranked Turf horse.

Of all her wins, she has won three consecutive Cox Plates. The W.S. Cox Plate held in Melbourne Australia is a Moonee Valley Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred race for horses three years old and older. In 2015, as a four year old, Winx set a track record in the 2040 meter race. In 2017 she won again and broke her own track record. 

She is owned by Magic Bloodstock Racing, trained by Chris Waller, and her regular jockey is Hugh Bowman. 

Dana and the Big A 2017

Dana and the Big A Drawing

This is the second drawing that I have done of Arrogate. In this picture he is with his exercise rider Dana Barnes. The pictures that I drew from were taken in Del Mar by Penelope Miller. Equine photographer and Senior Manager of Digital Media at ABR racing, she has become a friend over the last couple years, and this is the second time I have drawn from her photographs. They were used by permission. 

Parx Racing - Pa. Derby Day Sept. 23,2017

 September 23rd, I went to Parx Racing for the first time. The day was highlighted by back to back million dollar stakes races, the Cotillion, and the Pennsylvania Derby.

 Tasit post race bath

Race 7 included Tasit, a 4 year old son of Tapit. I saw Tasit break his maiden at Laurel Park in November of 2015.

 Irish War Cry entering the Paddock

The horse I really went to see was Irish War Cry. I have posted numerous times about this horse.

Irish War Cry Drawing

 IWC with Feargal Lynch up

Irish War Cry had Feargal Lynch in the irons for the Pa. Derby. Having seen most of my live racing at Laurel Park, I have seen Feargal ride many times.

Irish War Cry saddled up in the paddock

 West Coast saddled up in the paddock

West Coast who won the Travers earlier in the summer was one of the favorites for the Pa. Derby

 Mike Smith and Bob Baffert in the Paddock

West Coast with Mike Smith up on Winners Circle

Lately in big stakes races, its hard not to pick a horse ridden by Mike Smith. Especially if that horse is trained by Bob Baffert!

 Caton Bredar

It was a pleasure to meet the lovely and very friendly Caton Bredar. Caton is a TV horse racing analyst, writer, and handicapper.

The Parx Racing mascot who throws t-shirts into the crowd between races.