Secretari-ART

For the Secretariat enthusiast who enjoys seeing Big Red represented in fine art form, we are proud to present Secretari-ART, featuring rare and archival fine art pieces currently available for purchase.

Our newest feature in the Secretari-ART Gallery is the pastel work "Secretariat with Ron Turcotte Up" by renowned equine artist Andre Pater that is currently featured in the 2026 Sporting Art Auction.

Andre Pater (b. 1953)

Andre Pater is considered by many to be the greatest painter in the sporting art field since Sir Alfred Munnings, and the contemporary heir to the 20th century master’s artistic throne. Like Munnings, Pater shares the gift of bringing life and emotion to his mastery of the equine form.Pater's refinement in pastels and classic oils speaks for his artistic skill, inventiveness, originality and observations in capturing the essence of his subjects.

The Polish-born Pater is certainly living the American dream. Upon graduating summa cum laude in architecture from the Krakow Academy of Fine Arts, Pater came to the United States, first to New York and then settling in Dallas. There Pater was drawn to the Arabian horse, whose rich breeding tradition Texas shared with Poland — where the artist had been painting the breed for years. Upon moving to Kentucky in 1988, his focus shifted to Thoroughbreds and the racing world.

Pater's renown has been recognized in numerous art and equine publications and his work has been featured in exhibitions domestically and abroad including the National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia; "Retrospective at the 1996 Olympics” in Atlanta, Georgia; The Sladmore Gallery in London, England; the Headley-Whitney Museum of Art and the University of Kentucky, Art Museum in Lexington, Kentucky​; and numerous American Academy of Equine Art member exhibitions.

His expansive list of clients includes the former British Ambassador William S. Farish, Darley America, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Coolmore Ireland and Keeneland Race Course, which in 1999, commissioned Pater to create a series of jockeys pastels depicting the silks of Keeneland’s top 25 stakes-winning owners over the previous 60 years.

"Secretariat with Ron Turcotte Up"

This magnificent pastel is part of the forthcoming 2026 Sporting Art Auction taking place Nov. 13 in Lexington, Kentucky and features the Meadow Stable champion with regular jockey Ron Turcotte aboard. The elegant work radiates the color and vibrance of the copper-hued chestnut champion adorned in the Meadow Stable’s royal blue silks. This illustrious piece was publicly displayed in the 2017 National Sporting Library and Museum’s exhibition, Andre Pater: In a Sporting Light. Signed and dated, 2004 and measures 20” x 24.”

It should be noted Pater’s familiarity with Secretariat dates back to his association with owner Penny Chenery, who supplied her Lexington guest cottage to the talented but still relatively unknown artist to use as his studio in 1995. Ms. Chenery also commissioned Pater to create an entirely different Secretariat work in 2004.  That fine art piece was auctioned that same year to assist her fundraising efforts for the installation of the life-sized bronze by Edwin Bogucki featuring Secretariat, Ron Turcotte and Eddie Sweat now welcoming visitors at the entrance of the Kentucky Horse Park.