We recently spent some time in New York completing a mural of celebrated racehorse, Secretariat, for The New York Racing Association. Located at the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, New York.

“Aqueduct Racetrack opened on September 27, 1894, on property that belonged to the old Brooklyn Water Works, which was home to a conduit that brought water to New York City from the vast Hempstead Plain. Also known as the Big A,Aqueduct is the only racetrack in New York City, occupying 210 acres in South Ozone Park in the borough of Queens. Just eight miles from its sister track, Belmont Park, Aqueduct’s neighbor is John F. Kennedy International Airport, the top international passenger gateway in the United States.

Through the years, the Big A has been the scene of some of racing’s landmark events, including the only triple dead heat in stakes history when Brownie, Bossuet, and Wait a Bit hit the wire as one in the Carter Handicap on June 10, 1944. Man o’ War, Sword Dancer, Kelso, Buckpasser, Dr. Fager, Secretariat, Forego, Easy Goer and Smarty Jones built their legends at Aqueduct, and Cigar, for whom the Grade 1 Cigar Mile is named, won the first two races of his 16-race winning streak at the Big A.”

David Flores recognizes Secretariat by memorializing the horse at the same track the racing legend debuted on July 4, 1972 and retired, November 11, 1973.

“Seldom does performance match excessive expectation.
Super Bowls are rarely super. Pay-per-view fights are hyped without money-back guarantees. And there’s that old expression that applies so perfectly to horse racing: There’s no such thing as a sure thing.

Then there was Secretariat at the 1973 Belmont Stakes.

He carried a lot more than jockey Ron Turcotte when he went to the gate a 1-to-10 favorite. He had the weight of Secretariat Mania on his back. The international buzz surrounding him was deafening. He was being counted on to win the race and become the first Triple Crown champion in 25 years — the first of the television generation that had already put him on an unrealistic pedestal.

Secretariat’s response went beyond unreal. He won by a jaw-dropping 31 lengths. His time of 2:24 for 1 1/2 miles set a world record many argue may never be broken.

“This red horse with blue and white blinkers and silks seemed to epitomize an American hero,” said Penny Chenery, who owned the playful, barrel-chested colt during his racing days.

In a career that spanned only 16 months, Secretariat started 21 times, won 16 and finished in the money in all but his first race. He was an odds-on favorite 17 times, winning 13. By the time he went to stud, he had won back-to-back Horse of the Year awards.

In Secretariat’s debut on July 4, 1972 at Aqueduct, he went off as the favorite but was impeded at the start and finished fourth in the 5 1/2-furlong race. Eleven days later, he broke his maiden in a 6-furlong race at Aqueduct.

Secretariat’s only other defeat as a two-year-old would be on a disqualification, in which he was placed second for bumping Stop the Music in the Champagne at Belmont. His seven victories in nine races enabled him to become the first two-year-old to be voted Horse of the Year.”

Thank you to Montana Cans for providing the gold standard. Olivia Bevilacqua, Bryant Koger, Josh Garver for the assistance and Paul Kelleher for making this installation possible.

Read more:
Secretariat remains No. 1 name in racing
By Ron Flatter, Special to ESPN

The New York Racing Association

History of the Aqueduct

CBNC x David Flores Skinsuits by Endo Customs from CBNC on Vimeo.

David Flores Art has teamed up with Joemm Blanche head of CBNC on a 
collaboration for the CBNC Cycling Team.

As part of the “Beer Suit” series, David Flores Art has designed an ENDO skin suit for the CBNC cycling team. Watch out for these at any upcoming track,
road and fixed crit races.

We kick off 2014 with this Beethoven Installation in Playa Vista, CA. for
GIFT Universal. Completed last night right before we got a little rain fall.
A special thank you goes out to LeBasse Projects and Jordan Ahern of DopeVinyl. Stay tuned, video coming soon.

Ludwig van Beethoven ; German ; baptised 17 December 1770[1] – 26 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 32 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets. He also composed other chamber music, choral works (including the celebrated Missa Solemnis), and songs.
I grew up listening to my mom play classic and gospel music. Ive always wanted to paint a large beethoven, and finaly have gotten the chance for me is a full circle.

 
If you are traveling through LAX you can find yourself a copy of LAX Magazines winter 14 issue. Covering the Johnny Cash Mural and it’s role in the revival of a Sunset classic, The Viper Room.

words of truth!