A Kiss for the Champ 2015

A Kiss for the Champ Drawing

 

A Tweet from Mr. Zayat

Yes, another American Pharoah drawing! This picture was taken by Eric Kalet the day before AP won the Belmont Stakes to claim the Triple Crown. 

Sir Barton 2015

Sir Barton Drawing

In 1919 as a three year old colt, Sir Barton became the first horse to win what was to become known as the Triple Crown. 

In my last post, I have a picture with Clark Shaffer. Clarks Great Grandpa was Sir Barton trainer. 

Laurel Park Dec.13,2015

Me with Clark Shaffer

What a gorgeous December day with temps in the mid 60's. Spent a lot of the day talking about horse racing history with Clark Shaffer. Clarks Great Grand-Pop trained the first Triple Crown Winner Sir Barton in 1919.

MORE THAN READY

More Than Ready Drawing

More Than Ready is a stallion that now stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky. He is one of the youngest studs in history to sire 100 stakes winners, and 1000 winners. He has sired graded stakes winners in 12 countries, and Grade 1 winners in seven. 

Jockey John Longden aboard Count Fleet 2015

Count Fleet Drawing

In 1943 Count Fleet became the 6th Triple Crown Winner. Jock John Longden was from Wakefield England, about 40 miles from where my Pop was born.

Assateague Island 2012

Laurel Park Dec.6,2015

 Oreeley

 Heavenly Encore

Forest Boyce aboard Silent Critic

AND THEY'RE OFF 2015

AND THEY'RE OFF drawing

Little drawing I did at work. I really didnt think much of it, but my family who are my toughest critics said they love it.

Starspangledbanner 2015

Starspangledbanner Drawing

I drew this horse because I loved the angle of the photo, and the face and muscles on the horse. For the longest time I had no idea who it was. Then I ran across him again on Twitter.
Starspangledbanner was an Australian bred and internationally raced thoroughbred who won six of his sixteen graded stakes races including the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, G1 July Cup at Newmarket, and the G1 Caulfield Guineas.

Seattle Slew 2015

Seattle Slew Drawing

In 1977, Seattle Slew became the tenth horse to win the Triple Crown of horse racing. He is still the only horse to win that honor without losing any races prior to the running of the Triple Crown races. 

Stolen Love 2015

Stolen Love photos taken in the paddock at Laurel Park on Nov.21,2015

American Pharoah for Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year 2015

Yes I will admit I am a "Pharoahite"! This summer I got really got caught up on the American Pharoah hype. I tweeted my drawings during voting for the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year honor.  American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat re tweeted my request for votes.

Cute as a Button 2015

Cute as a Button

I took this photo at Laurel Park on November 21,2015. Like my son Jacob, I am really starting to love the Greys.

Slews Love 2015

 Victor Carrasco aboard Slews Love

Slews Love is a grandson of Seattle Slew. In 1977 Seattle Slew became the 10th horse to win the Triple Crown of horse racing. He was the only horse to ever win the Triple Crown while being undefeated in any previous race. Slews Loves Dam was Stellar Slew a mare sired by Seattle Slew.

Tweet liked by Jockey Victor Carrasco

Tapit 2015

Tapit Drawing

Tapit stands at stud at Gainesway Farm in Kentucky. He was the leading U.S. based sire by gross, average and median earnings in 2013, 2014, and 2015. 

Victor Carrasco aboard Tapits 2 year old son Tasit

Vicor Carrasco aboard Tasit in Winner Circle

On Nov.21,2015 I got to see Tapits 2 year old son Tasit break his maiden in the 8th race at Laurel Park. Victor Carrasco was the jockey.

TWILIGHT PADDOCK Laurel Park 2015

TWILIGHT PADDOCK at Lauren Park

I took this photo at Laurel Park on November 21,2015.

Goldencents 2015

Goldencents Drawing

Goldencents is the two time winner of the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. He know stands at stud at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky.

Jevian Toledo 2015

Jevian Toledo Drawing

Jevian and I

Jevian signing a print for me

 

Jevian signed race worn goggles

Jevian and Jacob

At my first visit to Laurel Park, I spent a lot of time at the Paddock and Winners Circle taking pictures. One of the shots I got was of Jockey Javian Toledo in Winners Circle aboard Lexington Street. Through Twitter, Jevian and I became friends, and on Nov.1,2015 he and I gave the drawing I did from that photo. He signed a print for me and gave me a pair of race worn, signed goggles. On Nov.14, Jacob went to the races with me and met Jevian.

Southern Peach 2015

Southern Peach

I took this picture on Nov, 1,2015 at Laurel Park.

COOLING DOWN 2015

I took these photos on Nov.11,2015 at Laurel Park.

Bethann Dixon CALL TO POST 2015

Bethann Dixon Drawing

Bethann and I

On Oct.17,2015, I went to Maryland Million Day at Laurel Park. Now in this its Thirtieth year, to be eligible to race in one of the days races, a horse must be sired by a stallion that stands in Maryland. 

During the day, each race had live buglers playing the "Call to Post." I got talking to Bethann Dixon, a local teacher and avid horse woman, She was the first woman ever to play the Call to Post at the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes, and the 146th Belmont Stakes. Those races are the second and third races of the horse racing Triple Crown. 

Bens Cat 2015

Bens Cat Drawing

Bens Cat losing by a nose to Jacks in the Deck

Ben's Cat is a 9 year old gelding who has 30 stakes grade race wins. He has also been the Maryland Horse of the Year 4 times. Ben's Cat was bread, trained, and owned by King T. Leatherbury. A Maryland legend, he ranks third all-time among U.S. trainers, and was inducted to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame this summer.

In the Maryland Million Sprint, heavy favorite Ben's Cat, ridden by Junian Pimentel, was nosed out by Jacks in the Deck ridden by Forest Boyce.