‘A Brush With Greatness’ Calls for Recognition
‘A Brush With Greatness’ Calls for Recognition: A Brush With Greatness is a horse racing enthusiast’s paradise in book form with an important message. Filled with immaculately detailed prints of oil paintings and racing career details describing the triumphs of numerous Grade I victors, A Brush With Greatness luxuriously captures the all-around importance of such great horses while emphasizing the need to be aware and appreciative of their accomplishments.
Artist Robert Clark and renowned author Edward Bowen were the perfect pair to pull together such an extensive collection of art, quotes, and stories of horses that have graced racetracks since the beginning of the current millennium. Somehow, in a matter of a few pages and utilizing the examples provided by 79 particularly thrilling racehorses, Clark and Bowen manage to pour accolades on each athlete and bear witness to the glimpse of or, more eloquently put by those creators, the brush with greatness each horse and their connections experienced.
The book’s summary on the inside of its cover captures its purpose most succinctly: “A Brush With Greatness presents a more encompassing view that greatness can come in many forms through a variety of accomplishments. Each of these horses achieved a pinnacle in the sport – some for a brief moment while others carved out their own timeless legends.” Although many of the horses featured in the pages of the book may seem to have faded a bit from recent memory, a quick reminder penned by Bowen and flawlessly illustrated by Clark quickly retrieves the emotions that existed at the times of their special feats and reminds the reader to remain aware of greatness.
From Afleet Alex to Zenyatta, the book fulfills its purpose so well that each portion dedicated to the marvels performed by the respective horse leaves readers with a perfect understanding of the feelings of joy, awe, and even reverence evoked by their once-in-a-lifetime performances. Of course, recent Triple Crown phenom American Pharoah is included, but his presence in this book that defies the idea that greatness only exists when horses achieve the relatively impossible simply reiterates how much it means to fans, owners, trainers, handlers, and breeders when horses are indeed able to overcome certain unfavorable conditions or notions to reach and take hold of the unattainable.
Clark and Bowen’s intentions to recognize and proclaim the greatness of even a one-time Grade I winner echoes a sentiment that should be believed and practiced by all fans and followers of horse racing. In fact, it provides a perfect stepping-stone to laying hold of the belief that all equine athletes and their accomplishments should be appreciated, whether they be maiden winners or claimers, quick sprinters or long-suffering routers, precocious juveniles or matured horses. Inasmuch as the horses achieve their own sorts of greatness at their own levels, so too are the connections allowed to witness a spark of something special, something so unique that its very nature is fleeting. But, fleeting as it may be, it is out there, and it is simply awaiting its next chance to douse a victor with hints of greatness.
A Brush With Greatness is an appropriate call to action for racing fans that stresses the importance of past great horses while laying the groundwork to feel similarly about current and future runners. A masterpiece in all aspects, Clark and Bowen have constructed a piece of work that will bless those passionate about the sport of horse racing for lifetimes to come.
Experience A Brush With Greatness now! The book can be purchased from many racetracks, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga, tacks shops, and online from Amazon.
Follow Robert Clark and A Brush With Greatness on twitter.