Few Thoroughbreds have given racing fans moments of breathless anticipation, heart-pounding thrills, and visions of true beauty quite like Zenyatta. It is this majesty, grace and athleticism that Louisville artist Jaime Corum has captured in a life-size portrait of the wildly popular mare known to many as simply “The Queen.”
Commissioned by her owners Ann and Jerry Moss for the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Zenyatta Celebration slated for Friday, Nov. 4, at the Kentucky Derby Museum, this stunning 11- by 8-foot painting, entitled “The Queen’s Dance,” depicts a prancing Zenyatta wearing the saddlecloth from her first Breeders’ Cup appearance when she won the 2008 Ladies’ Classic. It will be on display at the Derby Museum Saturday, Nov. 5, during the Breeders’ Cup races with paid museum admission. (Rates for museum admission listed on derbymuseum.org)
Artist Jamie Corum will sign posters featuring the portrait on Saturday, November 5th from 12:30-2:30 p.m. The 20- by 28-inch posters cost $40. Jaime Corum, a renowned equine artist who teaches art at Bellarmine University, is known for her classic oil studies of racing champions, including those of Secretariat and Barbaro. She painted the lifelike portrait of Zenyatta in the company of her students during a 2-month span using photographs and exact measurements supplied by trainer John Shirreffs.
"It is a fabulous likeness," stable manager Dottie Shirreffs said. "Jaime perfectly captures Zenyatta's beauty, power and personality with expert attention to detail. When John saw it for the first time in Jaime's studio, he said one word that sums it up perfectly, ‘Magnificent!’”
The Kentucky Derby Museum will be open to the public from 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. on Saturday during Breeders’ Cup.
