Richard Stone Reeves talks about Belmont Park: A Century of Champions

Richard Stone Reeves was born in New York City and reared in Garden City, Long Island, not far from Belmont Park where, as a boy, he acquired his love for horses and Thoroughbred racing. His father Matthew Sully Reeves, who came from Charleston, South Carolina, was a direct descendant of the celebrated American portrait painter, Thomas Sully, whose subjects included President Andrew Jackson and Queen Victoria of England. His mother Edna Simonson was a native of Long Island whose family owned and bred many well-known Standardbred racehorses.

After graduation from Syracuse University with a Fine Arts degree in 1941, Reeves enlisted in the U.S. Navy and received a commission as an ensign in 1942. He spent 1944 and ’45 in China, where he painted subjects such as local peasants and temples in between combat missions.

At the end of World War II, he began his career as a painter of horses and quickly received national recognition when his painting of Armed, Horse of the Year in 1947, appeared in LIFE magazine. This led to many assignments in the Thoroughbred field, and Reeves since has been commissioned to portray more international classic winners and champions than any artist in history. Among his earlier books prized by collectors are Legends, Decade of Champions, and Royal Blood. Reeves lives on Long Island.

Do you recall your first visit to Belmont Park?

Very vividly. It was September of 1933. I was thirteen years old and was taken to Belmont by an uncle, Edward Buhler, who had owned some racehorses a few years before. It was the day of the Belmont Futurity for two year olds, and at that time it was the richest race in the world, with a purse of $100,000. It was a miserable Saturday afternoon but I loved it anyway. The horse that won the Futurity was Singing Wood, owned by Mrs. John Hay Whitney. I was absolutely entranced and knew then that I was hooked on the colorful sport of Thoroughbred racing for the rest of my life.

What does Belmont Park signify in the scheme of American racing?

I think Belmont, since its inception, has been the home of America’s greatest horses and races and represents the best there is in the Thoroughbred sport.

What have been some of your most memorable Belmont Park portraits?

I can think of four horses that I remember more than any others: Citation, in October 1948, and Jimmy Jones holding the Triple Crown winner for me that day; Native Dancer, who I remember so vividly. He reared up and I had a little bit of a scare. It was in 1953; Tom Fool was one of the nicest horses I ever painted. He was a perfect gentleman and he was no trouble to pose at all. Interestingly enough, his son Buckapseer was the same type of horse, very gentle and with a good disposition. The fourth, of course, was Secretariat, who also posed beautifully for me and who was very patient.

What are your fondest memories of Belmont Park?

Watching War Admiral win the Belmont Stakes in 1937 and watching Secretariat win in 1973.

Which of your Belmont subjects was the most challenging?

My most challenging subject was Kelso, who was not the prettiest horse in the world, kind of ungainly. Trying to get him to pose the way I wanted and make a beautiful painting of sort of an ugly duckling was difficult. However, I did it the first time (he posed for me) and that painting is now hanging in the National Museum of Racing in the Hall of Fame.

What makes this book different from others you have done?

The subject, Belmont Park, makes it different and Belmont’s rich history. It’s really unlike any book that’s been done.

Some of the portraits in this book are new even though the subjects might have raced years ago. Why did you choose to revisit some of your subjects?

I went back to my files and picked out something that was different. And came up with what you see.

How has your approach to painting changed over the years and how is that reflected in Belmont Park: A Century of Champions?

My painting is more confident and a little freer and not so photographic.

What do you hope your book conveys to readers?

A pleasant look at the great horses that ran at Belmont Park. I’ve been to racetracks all over the world and I think Belmont really has to be considered one of the best, if not one of the best, for quality horses.

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