October
26, 2006
Dear Mr. Matz,
This letter is written to express
my gratitude in allowing us to visit your stable on our recent trip to Maryland.
I am the artist of the wood burning you autographed.
While at Arlington, having the picture
autographed
by Edgar Prado, I was asked by other people who gathered to look at it , "Why did you do THAT horse?"
It was a question I was unprepared to answer. Primarily because the truth really is stranger than fiction.
My husband, and his family have
loved horse racing for many years. His family owned race horses, his brother-in-law
was a jockey, and his sister was a Kentucky Col.
While I, on the other hand, spent time on the west coast
where my cousin and I used to ride
at Griffith Park and Lake Arrow Head. As far back as I can remember I have always
had a panache
for both art and horses. Bob (my husband) has always enjoyed my equine art.Another talent I seem
to have possessed
from early childhood is one that Bob would (very much) prefer I am not known for having.
Sometimes I see great events that
effect a world wide population. Some of the things I see have already happened.
Some have not. It
is not something I call on at will. It is not always something that I am aware of doing.
In the early 90's I had to have
a wood burner. There was a picture that seemed to be an obsession and I wanted
the scene to be on something other than paper. I practiced
by burning pictures of trees on poplar boards.
Then I began studying wood grain to find
a board that would lend its' pattern of dark to light on a race track picture.
It was simply
my obsession with this scene that drove me. The horse had to be #8 and he would be the only
dominating
factor in the race. His margin of win would be significant. A race that, to the best
of my understanding,
was only in my head. I routed, burned, painted, and varnished for
months. The steeples and writing had to be done in Kentucky
cottonwood- symbolic of the importance
of this particular race. Everyone seemed to love the picture. So, we took it to Churchill
Downs
where it hung from a lofty perch next to the museum overlooking the craft shop. After
about 2 years had passed we decided
to reclaim the piece. I made a gift of it to my husband
who placed it in his weight room. We were secretly very happy
to have it back.Each year we would attend the Kentucky
Derby and return home with no outstanding revelations.
This past year was much the same. We loved Barbaro, but thought
nothing of any connection to the picture until one week
after the race when Bob was lifting
weights alone in his room. I nearly lost my husband while in mid lift he looked up at the
(now
infamous) picture.He could hardly contain himself until I returned home. Having saved
the newspaper AP
clip picture we compared the two. They were dead on the money. With
the exception of a 3/4 view of the horses'
right leg which appeared to be injured
in my wood burning. At first I thought perhaps it was a fluke, until I saw
another horse (Sweetnorthernsaint??)
with a mask and nose roll positioned at the rail in both news clip
and wood
burning. I dropped to my knees in amazement!It was then I knew that Barbaro
was outstanding.
He would either win the triple crown or...
Whatever the case I believe only in the power of God to see all
things. Without doubt he saw this, and is even now
with you as well as your horse. Not
much mention is made of the fact that both Preakness and Belmont winners
were also #8.
Historically the number 888 is the number of God, and I believe a fitting sacred tribute to
the horse
who really could have taken it all...
Barbaro!
Thank
you so much for your kindness, and for making a beautiful trip to Maryland
even more memorable.
Sincerely,
Peggy
J. Adams -(Artist and webmaster at Gold Mine Handicapping)
