LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2020) – Breeders’ Cup today unveils the official artwork for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held at the historic Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., on Friday, Nov. 6 and Saturday, Nov. 7. Renowned equestrian artist Peter Howell has created two original paintings that capture the energy and excitement of the World Championships at Keeneland.
The artwork will be featured on promotional materials for the 2020 Breeders’ Cup, including the Official Track Program covers which will be available online this year.
Born in Caernarfon, North Wales, Howell is an artist best known for depicting equestrian scenes in his paintings. Introduced to horse racing at the age of eight, Howell spent his youth surrounded by horses in the stables of British trainer George Lambton in Newmarket, England. After completing his studies, Howell pursued a career in horse racing, and his surroundings frequently inspired him to create artworks of racehorses and racecourses. In the 1960s, Howell began to explore art more deeply and studied the works of French impressionists, eventually wholly devoting himself to painting in 1969. His works have been exhibited in New York City, London, Saratoga and Newmarket, and his artistic talents have been highlighted by BBC, Architectural Digest and The Sunday Times.
“We are delighted to be featuring two great works from Peter Howell at the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships,” said Drew Fleming, Breeders’ Cup President and CEO. “With an illustrious body of work and a deep connection to the world of horse racing, Peter was the perfect candidate to bring the spirit of Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland to life and celebrate the beauty and pageantry of our event.”
“As a lifelong lover of horse racing, I am honored to collaborate with the Breeders’ Cup, one of the world’s most distinguished Thoroughbred racing events,” said Howell. “I was deeply inspired by the vibrant energy of the Breeders’ Cup and the classic elegance of Keeneland, and I hope I was able to capture and share the essence of this year’s event through my artwork.”
The original Howell paintings featured on the Breeders’ Cup Friday and Saturday program covers will be on display at the 8th Annual Sporting Art Auction on Sunday, Nov. 22 in Lexington. The artwork will be available online and at the following locations prior to the auction: the Keeneland Sales Pavilion, Dudley’s restaurant and the Cross Gate Gallery.
To learn more about the 2020 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, please visit BreedersCup.com. Breeders’ Cup is also committed to alleviating the impacts of the health crisis on the horse racing community and other industry stakeholders in need. To learn more about Breeders’ Cup’s ongoing support of the community and to contribute to the organization’s COVID-19 relief efforts, please visit BreedersCup.com/Donate.
