Official Painting To
Be Donated To & Auctioned
To Support
Standardbred Retirement Foundation
EAST
RUTHERFORD, NJ --
Susan Sommer-Luarca - Official Artist of the 2013 Hambletonian -- has been
invited by the Meadowlands Racetrack to paint live at the at Hambletonian
Stakes scheduled for Saturday, August 3, 2013. The 88th
Hambletonian will be telecast live on CBS Sports Network.
Susan
Sommer-Luarca's commemorative painting will be donated to the Standardbred
Retirement Foundation and be auctioned off to support of its great work.
Jason
Settlemoir, GM, Meadowlands Racetrack stated, “It is thrilling that such an
accomplished artist as Susan Sommer-Luarca will be the official artist of the
2013 Hambletonian.”
Jeff Gural, Chairman of
New Meadowlands, LLC, stated “We are excited that artist Susan Sommer-Luarca
will paint live at the 2013 Hambletonian – and capture the final Hambletonian
at the racetrack as we have known it since it was opened in September
1976. We are equally looking forward to Susan capturing on her canvas the
new Meadowlands Racetrack’s state-of-the-art racing and entertainment venue
scheduled to have its grand opening on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013!
Susan
Sommer-Luarca stated from her studio in Springfield, MO, “I can’t wait to paint
live at 2013 Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Racetrack. I am confident that
I will capture the magic and energy of such a classic race. I understand
it's an historic racing day because it's the final day of racing of the
Hambletonian at this 36-year-old racetrack. But I am excited and looking
forward to painting at the new Meadowlands Racetrack that's opening in a few
months - it's going to be the one of the most amazing racetracks in the
U.S. at which to paint live!"
2013 Hambletonian Day
Hambletonian
Day -- Harness Racing's Greatest Day – features the $1.2 Million Hambletonian
and $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks. The 2013 Hambletonian will once again
feature heat racing as conducted from 1991-1996, with eliminations and the
final on the same day.
Hambletonian
Day has something great for everyone in the family:
An
epic sporting event, free outdoor concert, rides and games, and of course,
great giveaways. Each attendee will receive an official 2013
Commemorative Hambletonian hats (baseball caps for adults; bucket hats for
children).
Paddock
Park Events include:
•Live
Music by The Nerds- 12 noon to 4 p.m.
•Moon
bounce, rock wall, carnival rides & games
•Live
WFAN remote with Marc "Moose" Malusis
•Night
School Tour Fan Education Tent at the Wedge
•Pony
rides 11:00 am to 4:30 p.m.
•Face
Painters under the Park tent - 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p .m.
•Character
appearances: Hambo Tony
For
more information about Hambletonian Day, please visit: www.meadowlandsracetrack.com/hambletonian/
Fans can follow all the action at meadowlandsracetrack.com, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr and
on Twitter at #Hambo13.
To
access the CBS Sports Network channel finder, go to www.cbssportsnetwork.com.
About Susan Sommer-Luarca
Susan
Sommer-Luarca grew up on a ranch in southwest Missouri. At an early age and
with no formal art training, Susan was drawing and painting the many horses on
the farm with great attention to detail. Susan has now been painting larger
than life murals and fine works of art for more than twenty years, capturing
humankind, wildlife and the world around us for all to enjoy. Early in Susan's
career, she was an artist for Bass Pro Shops headquarters in Springfield, MO.
She then traveled extensively for Bass Pro, creating giant works of art
across the country during their corporate nation-wide expansion.
Susan
was chosen to paint at all three "Triple Crown" horse races for 2007
and 2008, including the "Breeders Cup World Championships" and the
"Travers" at the famed and historic Saratoga racetrack in New York.
Susan was the first artist to be chosen paint at all of these events in a
single season and has been honored recently as the Official Triple Crown
artist. Susan has also been the Official Artist of many Kentucky Derby and
Preakness winners.
Susan
was invited to paint at Super Bowl XLII in 2008 by the NFL. She completed two
paintings LIVE of the competing quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady, and
those paintings were unveiled on FOX "Super Bowl Sunday" to millions
of television viewers worldwide.
Susan
was chosen for the very rare and distinguished honor to be an Official Olympic
Artist for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Susan is honored again as
Official USA Olympic Artist for the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Being
chosen to be an "Official Olympic Artist," Susan follows in the footsteps
of other internationally known artist including Andy Warhol, Leroy Neiman,
Peter Max, Michael Delacroix, Pierre Matisse and very few other artists who
have had this honor.
Susan's
talents to paint not only wildlife but a varied subject matter in any number of
different mediums and styles has been recognized throughout the art world from
Susan's abstracts to realism, fine art paintings, and sculptures. NASA
invited Susan to paint live and commemorate the last space shuttle launch of
Discovery, at Cape Canaveral, 2011.
In
2003, Susan was commissioned to create Official Paintings for the P.G.A.
Nationwide Tour. Susan was the first woman chosen for this distinguished
honor. Susan was honored again when she was chosen in 2004. Both paintings were
inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in Susan's Home state of Missouri.
Susan
received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor in New York City May 7,
2011. She joined medal recipients; Legendary Entertainer Jerry Lewis, Actress
Doris Roberts (Everyone Loves Raymond), Actor John O'Hurley (Seinfeld),
Legendary NFL Coach Don Shula, & FDNY Commissioner & 9-11
Hero Salvatore Cassano. Past Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipients include six
Presidents of the United States, Nobel Prize winners, athletes, leaders of
industry, artists and others whose work has made a lasting impact on
humanity. They are awarded annually to outstanding American citizens,
from all walks of life, who have distinguished themselves through their
significant contributions to this country. The Ellis Island Medal of
Honor ranks among the nation's most prestigious awards. The U.S. Senate
and House of Representatives have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals
of Honor, and each year the recipients are listed in the Congressional Record.
Susan's
work has been seen and aired by many of the national media outlets including
NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, New York Times, LA Times, LIFE and People Magazine
just to name a few. In 2006, Susan started her own wildlife conservation and
preservation foundation, Susan Sommer-Luarca for Habitat. Susan is committed to
her vision of garnering awareness to the preservation of wildlife and its
natural habitat. Susan served as a board member, national spokesperson, and
helps raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association. Susan began the first
"Memories in the Making" painting therapy for Alzheimer's patients in
southwest Missouri. Her mother was stricken with early-onset Alzheimer's.
Thanks to the program, this therapy is now benefiting many patients yearning to
express themselves. Susan is the Official artist of the Cattle Baron's Ball ,
the largest fund raising event for the American Cancer Society. Her father
passed away from lung cancer in 2005 so this cause is also very near to her
heart.
For
additional information, please visit: www.sslworldwide.com.
*The Grand Opening of the Meadowlands
Racetrack’s State-of-the-Art Racing & Entertainment Venue is Scheduled on
Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013*
