LEXINGTON, KY (Nov. 12, 2018) – Keeneland and Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington announced today that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has donated items belonging to Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify to the 2018 Sporting Art Auction, with 100 percent of the proceeds from their sale to benefit the Ann Hanley Parkinson’s Research Fund.
The Sporting Art Auction will be held this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion.
Baffert donated a halter worn by 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify and horseshoes worn by both Justify and 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The horseshoes are framed with two Sports Illustrated magazines featuring American Pharoah and Justify that are signed by Baffert and Triple Crown-winning jockeys Victor Espinoza and Mike Smith. Letters of authenticity from Baffert accompany the halter and horseshoes.
“Jill and I are happy to have this unique opportunity to share a bit of racing history with fans of American Pharoah and Justify, and in doing so benefit Ann and her efforts to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease,” Baffert said. “The dual horseshoe arrangement is one of a kind. Before we have donated individual or sets of shoes from either Pharoah or Justify, but never together. This will definitely be a piece of memorabilia that no one else has.”
Ann Hanley, wife of WinStar Farm General Manager David Hanley who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 49, founded the Ann Hanley Parkinson’s Research Fund in 2016 to underwrite research into an experimental treatment available only at the University of Kentucky.
“I am honored and wowed how Bob and Jill Baffert, Keeneland and the Thoroughbred community continue to support this unique and worthy cause,” Hanley said. “I can safely say that without their support, this clinical trial could not be as far along as it is. I am blessed to be part of this community knowing that the Thoroughbred industry is working to make a difference in so many people’s lives. Because this procedure taps into the body’s own repair mechanism without the use of drugs, funding is not readily available. The clock is ticking for people with Parkinson’s disease and the only way we can slow the ticking is to have many groups working together to bring their talents to end this dreadful disease.”
Keeneland Association donated $25,000 in support of the Ann Hanley Parkinson’s Research Fund on opening Saturday of the 2018 Fall Meet.
“The Sporting Art Auction provides another meaningful way for Keeneland to support worthy causes in the community and horse industry,” Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason said. “We thank Bob for this generous donation of Triple Crown memorabilia, which is certain to create excitement among racing fans and support Ann and her fight against Parkinson’s disease.”
The 2018 Sporting Art Auction
The sixth annual Sporting Art Auction has cataloged 175 high-quality lots representing fine sporting art, American paintings and sculpture from renowned masters as well as talented new artists.
Among the other notable pieces offered are: The Saratoga Derby, 1906, an oil painting by Henry Stull; Richard Singleton, an oil painting by noted equine artist Edward Troye; Norman’s Rock, an oil on pineboard box, 30½” wide x 19½” deep by 19½” high by Sir Alfred Munnings; and Black Lab, an oil painting by renowned artist LeRoy Neiman.
The auction also will feature works by such distinguished artists as Andre Pater, Peter Howell, Richard Stone Reeves, Isidore Jules Bonheur, Henry Faulkner, Larry Wheeler and Quang Ho.
The Sporting Art Auction catalog is available at thesportingartauction.com and in print. As in previous years, artwork is currently on exhibit in the Keeneland Sales Pavilion through the November Breeding Stock Sale, which concludes Friday. To make an appointment for viewing or for additional information, please visit the website or call 859 233-3856.
In keeping with Keeneland’s mission, the Association’s portion of the auction proceeds will benefit its non-profit initiatives, including the Keeneland Library Foundation.
About Keeneland
For more than 80 years, Keeneland has devoted itself to the health and vibrancy of the Thoroughbred industry. The world’s largest Thoroughbred auction house, Keeneland conducts four sales a year, in January, April, September and November, and its sales graduates dominate racing globally at every level. In April and October, Keeneland offers some of the highest caliber and richest Thoroughbred racing in the world. Keeneland hosted the Breeders’ Cup in 2015 and the track will hold the World Championships again in 2020. To learn more, visit Keeneland.com.
About Cross Gate Gallery
Founded in 1974 by owner Greg Ladd, Cross Gate Gallery is a leading source of the world’s finest sporting art. Cross Gate specializes in equine-related art, and its impressive collection ranges from 19th and early 20th century classic works to contemporary paintings and sculpture. Its Central Kentucky location makes the focus on sporting art a natural one.
