Galleithner-Steiner and co-author Jay Hovdey will be on hand to autograph copies, along with very special guests Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, his wife Jill (who penned the book's Foreword), and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Baffert and Smith, who guided Justify to a Triple Crown win in June, have connections to several of the Old Friends retirees, including multi-millionaire Game On Dude, who graces the cover.
The signing will take place at the Del Mar racetrack, 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard, Del Mar, CA., from 1-3 pm in the track's Turf Club/Clubhouse entrance near its colorful fountain.
The Art of Old Friends sells for $39.99, and copies will be available for purchase
.
One hundred percent of the proceeds from the book will support the retired Thoroughbreds at Old Friends farm, including such luminaries of the turf as Kentucky Derby-Preakness winners Silver Charm and War Emblem, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup, Belmont Stakes winners Sarava and Touch Gold, and Barbaro's full brother Nicanor.
Crafted over more than seven years,
The Art of Old Friends showcases over 40 stunning pastel paintings and pencil works of horses both past and present, including 1999 Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner Charismatic, 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair, two-time Pacific Classic winner Tinners Way, and Eclipse Award-winners Sunshine Forever and Hidden Lake.
With text by Old Friends founder and President Michael Blowen and
Daily Racing Form executive columnist and five-time Eclipse Award-winner Hovdey, the 100-plus-page hardbound book also includes sketches and behind-the-scenes images.
On September 1st Del Mar will offer a full card of 11 races, including the Gr. l Del Mar Debutante and the Gr. II John C. Mabee Stakes. Gated open at 12 pm and first-race post time is 2 pm. Various seating options are available. For information and a full calendar of the day's events visit their website at
www.dmtc.com.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born and raised in Germany, Galleithner-Steiner now lives in the United States with her husband, former jockey Joe J. Steiner, and their son, Jonah. Her work can be seen in private collections around the world. She has long been an advocate of equine aftercare, and has donated her work to numerous organizations, including Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue, Save a Forgotten Equine (SAFE), CANTER, Thoroughbred Charities of America, and Old Friends
In recent years Galleithner-Steiner has been commissioned by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to create the official portrait of Pacific Classic winners Shared Belief, Beholder, California Chrome, and Collected.
ABOUT DEL MAR
Del Mar, just a few furlongs from the Pacific Ocean, has been a racing destination since its founding in 1937 by entertainment icon Bing Crosby and a crew of his Hollywood pals. Owner-breeder Crosby, known as the original laid-back Californian, put his special stamp on the place "where nobody's in a hurry but the horses." Bing penned and sang a ditty called "Where the Turf Meets the Surf" in 1938 and the song is still played today at the start and finish of every card. The seaside oval is one of America's racing stalwarts, a proving grounds for stars-in-the-making and stars-in-fact guided by first-rate horsemen and enjoyed by enthusiastic crowds all summer long. Del Mar also conducts a second racing meet - the Del Mar Fall Racing Festival - during the month of November. For more information, call 858-755-1141 or visit
DelMarRacing.com. You can follow Del Mar on Instagram and Twitter at @DelMarRacing or become a fan on Facebook @DelMarRaces
