The Art of Racing, an annual partnership between 1/ST, the Maryland Jockey Club and the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), today launched its 2024 program. 

As a nationwide call for entries of original, two-dimensional visual art celebrating the Preakness Stakes and Thoroughbred horse racing, the unique competition commemorates the second jewel of the Triple Crown Series. Beginning today, artists can submit their entries to www.preakness.com/the-art-of-racing. Submissions will be accepted through March 11th.

In the past two years, the program has drawn more than 300 entries from artists across 19 states, each depicting different elements of Thoroughbred horse racing as reflected in the Preakness Stakes. The competition included an open voting phase, during which the public was invited to visit www.preakness.com/the-art-of-racing to cast their vote for their favorite work of art.

From March 12th through March 26th visitors to The Art of Racing website can cast their votes for this year’s entries. The top 10 vote-getters will then be entered into the finalist category, with the winning piece selected by an esteemed panel of judges from the artistic, business, philanthropic and political communities that provide support to Park Heights as the home of Preakness 149.

The winning artist of the third-annual competition will be awarded a $4,000 prize and two tickets to Preakness 149 on Saturday, May 18th, 2024. In addition, their work will be reproduced on a curated collection of Preakness 149 merchandise that will be available for purchase online and onsite during Preakness weekend. Proceeds from merchandise sales will be directed – for the third consecutive year – to the Park Heights Renaissance, a non-profit organization pursuing employment opportunities and affordable housing for Park Heights residents.

1/ST and the Park Heights Renaissance have an ongoing partnership to raise awareness of Park Heights’ storied culture. The Art of Racing is among a series of initiatives between 1/ST and the Park Heights Renaissance that includes the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and the George E. Mitchell Park Heights Community Fellowship Grant. As an extension of the late community advocate George E. Mitchell’s legacy, The Art of Racing recognizes and honors individuals who demonstrate a similarly commendable commitment to the Park Heights community. 

“As we kick off the third-annual Art of Racing competition, we’re thrilled to invite artists nationwide to capture the Preakness Stakes through their unique perspectives,” said Audra Madison, Director of Marketing, Maryland Jockey Club. “Once again, we look forward to blending artistic achievement with the vibrant world of Thoroughbred horse racing.”

The winner of last year’s competition was Justin Johnson, a Baltimore-based artist, whose original illustration titled “The Face of Victory” was selected from among the 207 total submissions. 

Beginning in the 1970s, the relationship between MICA and the Preakness Stakes was revitalized by The Art of Racing. A tribute to the seven murals created by then-MICA professor Raoul Middleman and his students that live in perpetuity in Pimlico Race Course’s grandstand, the competition honors a tradition forged by both Maryland-based institutions defined by history, scholarship and character. 

“MICA is proud to partner on this ongoing community project, The Art of Racing, and is excited that this year MICA’s faculty co-leads Elizabeth English and Whitney Frazier are those with a keen interest in community partnership, arts and impact. We are excited to extend the research between the connection of the arts and horse racing, two realms that have clearly shaped Maryland’s cultural landscape and history,” said Dr. Mina Cheon, MICA’s Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

“MICA’s involvement to enhance the program to encouraging participation from MICA’s talented students, dedicated faculty, proud alumni and our vibrant community demonstrates the growth of our partnership, and we hope to further bridge the artistic legacy of our community with Maryland’s tradition of Preakness,” said MICA faculty Elizabeth English and Whitney Frazier.

For more information on The Art of Racing, please visit www.preakness.com/the-art-of-racing or follow @PreaknessStakes and #Preakness on social media.

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