Completed Painting & OBS Races

The foxhunting painting that I started last week is finished.

I created it to sell at Little Everglades next month as steeplechase and foxhunting appear to be symbiotic. However, my schedule is thickening like old paint and I won't make the show this year. I've already had some serious interest so I can say tally ho to the piece probably this week.

It was a great day at the OBS/Darley Championship Day at the Races. I've never enjoyed it so much - the weather was picture perfect and I caught up with lots of friends and business acquaintenances. Just general networking and fun. The races were run on the new Safetrack synthetic surface and all seemed well. The times seemed consistently average - not too fast or slow as predicted.

It's sticky and difficult to brush off your hand and clothing. Wonder what happens if a horse breaths it into it's respiratory system...

Jockey Jorge Chavez in the first aboard Freedom Afleet who didn't like the surface.

Chavez aboard third-place finisher Star Worship in the fourth.

The awaited dramatic thunder of hooves seem muffled on the new surface. It even sounds softer.

The big race for three year old colts and geldings won by Zayat Stable's Halo Najib with Desormeaux aboard.

OBS evaded my offer to do a FREE painting for the winner of the big race. I'd be working on a portrait of the good looking chestnut Halo Najib for Ahmed Zayat right now. The irony is that I'm hounded for freebies all year long from various fund raisers and when I actually offer one - it gets turned down. Ha! Go figure...