This is a print that has hung on my office wall for the last 6 years or so. A former boss selected it for my office when she was decorating our branch, and while I don't think of my time with her as particularly harmonious, I do appreciate her insight into my passion!
The artist is Susan Crawford, and I knew just from looking at their faces that they were likely racing Thoroughbreds, but for many years that's all I knew. It generates a lot of interest from my customers, and they often ask if these are my horses.
I've come across a few articles that shed more light on who these geldings were, and why they might be considered famous enough to be immortalized in portrait. All three of them lived and raced in the second half of the 20th century in the UK, and they were all successful in the biggest, toughest steeplechase races. Steeplechase is a long, grueling group run over huge jumps and ditches.
Arkle, on the left, was Irish. He had a fine pedigree and had a preference for Guinness beer. He won races while carrying 35 pounds more weight than any of his competitors. He died young from an infection at 13.
Red Rum, in the middle, was also Irish. He won the famous Grand National steeplechase (think National Velvet) three times, which amazes me as an incredible feat of hardness and longevity. He also suffered from inflammation of the bones within his hooves, and was nearly worthless for a time in his career. A man who lived near the sea bought him and trained him in the cold salt water, which eased his pain and restored his winning ways. He died at 30.
Desert Orchid, on the right, was English. He fell in races often, but he also won, and under several different jockeys. His trainer recognized that he raced much better to the right than to the left. He died at 27 in 2006 and no horse since has matched his career.
These fellows set a standard for me of toughness and grit. Their early talent was rewarded by being saddled with the most weight in races, and yet they still succeeded. They galloped into the fray and over huge obstacles, again and again.
The heart of a horse is an amazing thing to me.
The artist is Susan Crawford, and I knew just from looking at their faces that they were likely racing Thoroughbreds, but for many years that's all I knew. It generates a lot of interest from my customers, and they often ask if these are my horses.
I've come across a few articles that shed more light on who these geldings were, and why they might be considered famous enough to be immortalized in portrait. All three of them lived and raced in the second half of the 20th century in the UK, and they were all successful in the biggest, toughest steeplechase races. Steeplechase is a long, grueling group run over huge jumps and ditches.
Arkle, on the left, was Irish. He had a fine pedigree and had a preference for Guinness beer. He won races while carrying 35 pounds more weight than any of his competitors. He died young from an infection at 13.
Red Rum, in the middle, was also Irish. He won the famous Grand National steeplechase (think National Velvet) three times, which amazes me as an incredible feat of hardness and longevity. He also suffered from inflammation of the bones within his hooves, and was nearly worthless for a time in his career. A man who lived near the sea bought him and trained him in the cold salt water, which eased his pain and restored his winning ways. He died at 30.
Desert Orchid, on the right, was English. He fell in races often, but he also won, and under several different jockeys. His trainer recognized that he raced much better to the right than to the left. He died at 27 in 2006 and no horse since has matched his career.
These fellows set a standard for me of toughness and grit. Their early talent was rewarded by being saddled with the most weight in races, and yet they still succeeded. They galloped into the fray and over huge obstacles, again and again.
The heart of a horse is an amazing thing to me.
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