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

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

Millions

I was riveted to HRTV tonight watching the Fasig-Tipton's Selected Fall Mixed Sale in Lexington. While the world markets continue on a riotous roller coaster ride and global economies groan to their knees, millions and millions of bucks flowed through the better horse racing sales department. Encouraging and hopeful for a business severely affected by the economic downturn and also suffering image problems of major proportions.

I was on the edge of my couch hoping Better Than Honour (pictured) would surpass the sales record of The Green Monkey. Didn't happen but 14 mil isn't too bad for a 12-year-old broodmare not in foal. I won't go into the stats of how much or who, you can look all that up yourself and catch up on the connections who were basically buying their own horse at dispersal. My interest is much more self-serving. I'm inclined to the current "spread it around" theory, especially when applied to investing in horse racing art.

“Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.” - Buddha