Race of the Year 1980

LeRoy Neiman's 'Race of the Year' vibrates with the energy of the racetrack, capturing a fleeting moment of intense competition. This work sits within a long tradition of equestrian painting. Neiman had a unique position as the official artist for the Olympics and the Super Bowl. His vibrant, expressive style brought a sense of excitement to the page. Consider, for instance, that Black jockeys dominated horse racing in its early years, yet their contributions have been largely erased from mainstream narratives. The figures are somewhat unidentifiable. This abstraction allows us to consider more broadly the societal structures of power, labor, and spectacle at play in such events. The artist’s gestural brushstrokes and vivid color palette evoke the speed and adrenaline of the race. This emphasis on dynamism invites reflection on the emotional dimensions of sports, and perhaps, also on who gets remembered in the winner's circle.