Saratoga ~ 2026 Program Cover Print

In the Fall of 2025, the New York Racing Association -- looking ahead to the 2026 Saratoga Meet -- set to be the longest in the track's storied history at 46 racing days -- asked me to make an original piece of art for the program '26 cover.  

Truth is, my schedule was not conducive to wedging in time for a such a request---I'm typically booked-out for a calendar year with private commissions... but how could a sole proprietor artist possibly turn down the chance to have one of his paintings seen, by estimates, 2 million people over 10 summer weeks? 

You bet I accepted !

As for the composition, while the jockeys and horses are fictitious, the four sets of silks are real.  I chose designs and colors that 'fit the feel' of the composition, and 'the view' is the one witnessed by hundreds-of-thousands of fans every year from the Grandstand side - either from seats inside, or while standing out on the apron between the 1/8 pole and the wire. 

 What you see is not a "whipping-and-driving, finish scene"  ---rather, it's the opposite:  
A moment roughly 200 yards out of the gate.  Note the hands, whips and reins of the jockeys...they're resting low on the horses' necks & their heads are up - looking to establish position.  It's early in the race. 

Who goes on to win? 

The overall print size is 21" x 23" --and it frames up beautifully without matting.

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