After 5: A Day at the Derby

At the close of the race, Sommer-Luarca will have witnessed thoroughbred horse racing’s big three events from a very unique position – on the field.

Some might say that she had a better Kentucky Derby seat than Queen Elizabeth II.

Sommer-Luarca’s self-described “surreal” experiences were possible because of her artistic talents.

Churchill Downs, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Jackson family that owned last year’s Derby winner Barbaro, commissioned Sommer-Luarca to complete a painting of Barbaro during the May 5 Kentucky Derby, the first leg of the Triple Crown.

Sure she was on the job, but Sommer-Luarca might as well have been an A-list celebrity. While crafting the life-size Barbaro painting on the field, Sommer-Luarca was approached by a steady stream of celebrities. She posed for pictures with Apolo Anton Ohno, Ivana Trump, Vince Young and Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. She signed Willie Mays’ program, did a live ESPN interview and joked with ESPN reporter Kenny Mayne (including drawing a caricature of him in a pink leotard). Pictures capturing these moments cover a wall in Sommer-Luarca’s gallery at 315 South Avenue.

“I was 10 feet to the queen,” she says, noting that Secret Service men interrupted any attempts to photograph the queen.

“I always had hoped to go to the Kentucky Derby one day. This was surreal.”

A key moment for Sommer-Luarca, a self-professed horse-racing fan, was when Barbaro’s jockey, Edgar Prado, passed by on his horse but climbed off when he saw Sommer-Luarca and her painting. She also visited with legendary jockey Angel Cordero.

The day of stardom for the 20-year painting veteran carried into the next when the New York Times, L.A. Times and Chicago Tribune ran a photo of Sommer-Luarca painting Barbaro.

“I had people calling and e-mailing all over the country that they had seen this,” Sommer-Luarca says from her gallery above Tradewinds Furniture Co., owned by her husband, E.J. Luarca. “That was the coolest thing ever. I never expected all of that.”

Sommer-Luarca's Triple Crown

Here’s a rundown of Susan Sommer-Luarca’s days at the races.

Kentucky Derby

Sommer-Luarca began her Kentucky Derby day at 5 a.m. painting atop Churchill Downs, right next to the famous twin spires. She and her manager, husband E.J. Luarca, watched the sun come up over Churchill Downs.

Sommer-Luarca finished the Barbaro painting, done in shades of gray, black and gold, in the paddock just before the race began.

Preakness

Sommer-Luarca also received royal treatment at the May 19 Preakness in Baltimore.

After Street Sense eked out a Kentucky Derby victory, the NTRA and the Maryland Jockey Club commissioned the artist to complete a live painting of the horse during the Preakness. The painting was unveiled live on ESPN.

Belmont Stakes

Sommer-Luarca is perhaps saving the best for last. Her grand finale painting will feature three triple-crown winners: Affirmed, Seattle Slew and Secretariat on a 6-by-8 foot canvas. Barbaro and Street Sense are 4-by-5 foot paintings.

The couple leaves June 5 for New York; watch for Sommer-Luarca on TV during the June 9 Belmont.

E.J. Luarca serves as the artist’s manager, and the couple is reviewing contracts seeking her return to the races next year. For more information about the artist, visit www.sslworldwide.com.[[In-content Ad]]