I have a love hate relationship with horse racing. As a child my father would take me to the track sometimes and I was always attracted to the pageantry of the horses and their colorfully clothed jockeys when they paraded out onto the track for their race. However, I was always a bit distressed for the horses, especially when they came down the stretch because the jockeys would use theor whips to urge them on. As a boy, I thought this was a bit cruel and as a an adult I still hold onto that belief. But the majesty of the horse and their jockeys remain in my mind and these initial paintings are studies to get acquainted with how to paint y horse and their jockeys.
