OBS Pics

Another cold and windy day here in Ocala, Florida. Here's a few pics from yesterday's OBS Day at the Races and this morning out at the Select Two-Year-Old Sale.

See? See the crowd when we're not over saturated with racing? Okay, so we only have live racing one day a year and due to the economy, some prime sponsors had to rescind leaving us with a mere four races. But the entire county (it seemed) savored every hoofbeat.



It was great to see all the horse people I so dearly miss. In talking with the curious while ever-promoting my downtown studio/gallery, it was quite sad to admit I'm not painting horse racing scenes. And this is a horse racing blog. Boo-hoo. Gotta make a living, kids and diversification is the key to survival. Take a moment to read this article featured in our local Ocala Style Magazine: We're in for Lean Times. Says lots with honesty and some viable optimism.

"I'll be back." – The Terminator

January Musings

Hey, all I'm gonna say is: it'll take a lot of babies at $5000. a pop to cover $16,000,000.


That would be "The Green Monkey" of course. Looks good, doesn't he? My good friend, professional photographer extraordinaire Joe DiOrio shot this portrait just last weekend as well as a bunch of primo photos for a local Ocala farm. Check them out here. Love all the grays - reminds me of something cavalry.

Back to The Green Monkey: we won't be seeing those astronomical figures again anytime soon. I wandered over to the OBS Winter Mixed Sale this morning and picked up a hard copy of the Jan. 16th Bloodhorse. Very positive and affirmative article about "What's Working in Racing" especially after two years of doom and gloom. Refreshing insight. And all I listened to at OBS from my friends and acquaintances was doom and...right. I propose a shift in attitude. I've said all along that the biz will recover with a vengeance and emerge like a phoenix. The market corrections are at hand.

Here's a latest painting. How do you inject "dynamism" into the gentile world of hunter/jumper?

"Smooth Sailing" oil on canvas, 30" x 18"

And it's actually quite dynamic. Must feel like you've been vaulted onto the third floor balcony when sailing over those seven foot jumps.

“Dick Cheney and I do not want this nation to be in a recession. We want anybody who can find work to be able to find work.” - George W. Bush

*NOTE: for those of you who comment on this blog, I've had to re-instate word verification for awhile. The spam robots are attacking me daily.

Getting the Work Out

A toast to economic recoveries!

Michael and I have mapped out the rest of the year with shows, exhibits and of course, Saratoga intentions. I'm looking forward to dusting off my exhibit gear and meeting potential buyers and art lovers to discuss the world of art, especially equine art. We haven't participated at an outdoor show since last October and I miss it. Inertia has set in and I'm looking forward to getting back out there.

The first outdoor exhibit will be at "The Festival of the Horse" at the Florida Horse Park here in Ocala. It's home, I know lots of people and it's a perfect way to get back in the swing. It takes place this coming weekend, April 16th - 19th. Apropos that the under tack show for the OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training starts tomorrow (Tues.) and continues until Friday. If you're in town for the horse sale, why not spend an enjoyable day out at the Horse Park?
Next on the list is the High Hope Steeplechase in Lexington, Kentucky on May 18th at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“So many fail because they don't get started - they don't go. They don't overcome inertia. They don't begin.” - W. Clement Stone

I Want to Go to Ireland

Yes I do. What wonderful, engaging people the Irish are. And they love to party and they love horse racing. What more could I ask for?

Moi presenting my painting of "Curlin" to Mayor Mick Deely of Newbridge, Ireland.

In my biased opinion, I think the Irish are the best horsemen and women. Observing their fine skills while working amongst them in my California days, these people really love their horses. You can read more about our Ocala - Newbridge Twinning Ceremony here and view more photos here.

After the ceremony, it was on to a perfect day of racing at the OBS Day of Champions Presented by Darley. Weather was outstanding and the crowd was huge. Photo ops abound as I hang out at the 6 1/2f pole on the outside fence and get shots like this:

Pulling up after the big race, how often do fourteen horses stay together in one frame? Looks like a painting to me...

The day ended with an incredible party hosted by Darley at Golden Ocala. First class all the way.

"Poverty, I realized, wasn't only a lack of financial resources; it was isolation from the kind of people that could help you make more of yourself." - Keith Ferrazzi

Just a Social Butterfly

Friday I drove out to OBS to watch the two-year-olds breeze. This use to be a mandatory requirement for buyers, but now the videos are available online, on your cell, on your ipod, whatever. Technology changes everything. Birdsong and morning sunshine not included.

Saturday night I attended a party for Ocala's soon-to-be-twinned city Newbridge, Ireland at the Hilton. I asked - sister city and twin city are the same. I forgot to ask if we could be assigned more than one, therefore, San Rossore, Italy hangs in the balance. Regardless, the Irish are the most enjoyable people to party with in the entire free world. Tomorrow morning ushers in the official ceremony of "twinning". Then it's off to the races at OBS.

Relief news: Michael and I are on the guest list for the Darley party at Golden Ocala. Duh, it's Monday night, not Sunday as I previously assumed.

“If this humor be the safety of our race, then it is due largely to the infusion into the American people of the Irish brain.” - William Howard Taft

Busy Week

I love to work. I love to be busy. Swamped in fact. Events in the coming week should be at full throttle.

• Tomorrow, Thursday Feb. 12th, I'll be exhibiting at the H.I.T.S. Gala Equine Art Exhibit at the swanky Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club. It's an exclusive one-night affair. For some reason, I'm nervous.
• Early to rise to see the Under Tack show at OBS on Friday morning. I have some creative ideas for another multi-canvas project and will be photographing the two-year-olds breezing (and trying not to spook them while pointing my camera from the bushes).
• Received an invitation to a barbecue at the Hilton Ocala on Saturday evening. Ocala is twinning with Newbridge, Ireland and this event welcomes the Irish contingent. I thought our official sister city was San Rossore, Italy, but maybe we can have more than one. Or maybe twinning is something different.
  
• Sunday is free as I didn't receive my invitation to the big Darley party at Golden Ocala. I'm sure it was an oversight and I should be receiving an apologetic phone call any minute.
  
• Monday AM: Official Twinning Signing Ceremony also at the Hilton. I'm donating my original oil of "Curlin" as a gift from the City of Ocala. This would probably be a good time to research "twinning" vs. "sister city".
• Monday PM: "OBS Day of Champions presented by Darley". A great day of racing from Florida-bred graduates of OBS. No pari-mutual wagering, but it's stake races with decent purses and a chance to see and be seen. You can, however, wager inside the facility on any other race tracks.
• Tuesday is the Selected Sale of Two Year Olds in Training at OBS. Horse sales are boring (unless you're buying or selling) and difficult to network. I'll go early and then head back to the studio unless a stupendous opportunity occurs.
  

Started oil on canvas, 16"x20"

No more pastorals for awhile. I'm getting the evil eye from my landscape artist friends. Just kidding! The dynamic calls...

"One of the worst things that can happen in life is to win a bet on a horse at an early age." - Danny McGoorty, Irish Pool Player

Select Sale at OBS

Do you think the phenomenal success at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Select Two-Year-Olds in Training is any kind of overall economic indicator? Okay, that might be a stretch but for anyone involved in the wacky, wonderful world of horse racing, it's exciting. At least hopeful.

There was even a Rolls in the parking lot. In Ocala.

Regardless of recession talk in the media and economic crisis speculation, the well-heeled are freely spending at this OBS sale. Likewise in the upper bastions of the art world . Investment in art is now considered an alternative hedge against infla...

I've been told that my head is in the sand and other places but I refuse to acknowledge the fear inducing predictions. Today was propitious at OBS.