Pierre "Peb" Bellocq
Sporting Art Auction of Original Lewis Stable Sketches and Watercolors - Nov. 13
"Mighty Lukas in the 1995 Preakness"
The Nov. 13 Sporting Art Auction at Keeneland Racetrack in Lexington, Kentucky features a quartet of original works by the acclaimed Daily Racing Form caricaturist Pierre "Peb" Bellocq. These pieces emanate from the personal collection of the late Bob and Beverly Lewis, who were among the most successful horse owners in the 90s, campaigning champions Silver Charm, Charismatic, Serena's Song and classic winner Timber Country, among others.
The latter two horses, along with Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch, were part of the D. Wayne Lukas-trained stable stars of 1995 featured in these four whimsical works to be auctioned to benefit the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America.
The Sporting Art Auction, a collaboration between Keeneland Association and Cross Gate Gallery of Lexington, is considered one of the nation's premier equine-related annual art auctions and most anticipated events.
The auction takes place at the famed Keeneland sales pavilion where for decades numerous yearlings have been showcased and sold before becoming racing stars. A portion of the overall auction proceeds assists Keeneland's non-profit initiatives, including the Keeneland Library Foundation.
Click Here to Register and Bid in Auction.
"Chez Lukas"
"Timber - 1995 Santa Anita Derby"
"Affirmative Action for Serena's Song"
Please note: All four pieces in the auction will be offered as a singular lot (#121). Live auction begins at 4:00 p.m. EST, with online bidding also available. For more information contact info@thesportingartauction.com or call (859) 233-3856.
Pierre "Peb" Bellocq (born 1926)
American racing fans have been entertained, amused, and delighted for more than 50 years by the vividly colorful characters created by the fertile mind of Pierre Bellocq, better known as "Peb" to the Thoroughbred racing community. Born into a family of French horsemen, Peb came to the United States in the mid 1950s, eventually landing at publisher Walter Annenberg’s Daily Racing Form and Philadelphia Inquirer, where he created both political and racing cartoons. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including “Peb: The Art of Humor” at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
"Mighty Lukas in the 1995 Preakness" - This original watercolor likens trainer D. Wayne Lukas to a mythological Zeus-like figure in the thunderclouds hovering over the entries for the 120th Preakness Stakes. Leading into the race, the legendary trainer had already won the middle jewel in the Triple Crown three times with Codex in 1980, Tank’s Prospect in 1985, and Tabasco Cat in 1994. While the rest of the race contenders anxiously look above, Maryland Jockey Club CEO Joe De Francis is shown preparing to paint the winner’s colors on the historic Pimlico Clubhouse cupola weathervane — an annual Preakness tradition. Lukas had two formidable contenders for the race in Thunder Gulch and Timber Country, who had finished first and third, respectively, in the Kentucky Derby. And it would indeed be Timber Country who would win the Preakness, providing Lukas with the fourth of his seven total Preakness victories that would go on to include Charismatic in 1999, Oxbow in 2013 and Seize the Gray in 2024 — the latter making Lukas, the age of 89, the oldest trainer to win a Triple Crown race. Published as the cover art for the May 20, 1995 edition of the Daily Racing Form."Chez Lukas" - This humorous scene, playfully reminiscent of a French cafe, portrays trainer D. Wayne Lukas as the chef and his then-newest Kentucky Derby sensation Thunder Gulch as the wealthy patron, and the Preakness Stakes as their next target along the 1995 Triple Crown trail. Thunder Gulch, sent off at 24-1 in the Derby, proved best over the colt's more heralded Bob and Beverly Lewis-owned stablemates and race co-favorites — Timber Country and the filly Serena’s Song — who finished 3rd and 16th respectively, and are depicted as unimpressed wait staff. Fiilled with racing history, each of the three horses featured found great success later that year. Timber Country would turn the tables on his barn rival and win the Preakness, with Thunder Gulch finishing third. Thunder Gulch would bounce back to win the Belmont Stakes, providing Lukas with a sweep of all three 1995 Triple Crown races. Published in the May 14, 1995 edition of the Daily Racing Form.
"Timber - 1995 Santa Anita Derby" - This colorful watercolor whimsically depicts several of the connections for the entrants running in the 1995 Santa Anita Derby, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile champion Timber Country, owned in partnership by Bob and Beverly Lewis and Overbook Farm. Depicted as lumberjacks in this whimsical piece are Bob Lewis and Overbrook’s W.T. Young, along with Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Also portrayed in caricature birdlike form are jockey Pat Day and the race’s key contenders adorned in the plumage of their respective stable colors. Timber Country would finish a fast-closing third in his next start in the Kentucky Derby, and followed up that effort with a victory in the Preakness Stakes in his final career start. Published as the cover art for the April 8, 1995 edition of the Daily Racing Form.