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-i _ JOE PETRO left and W. T. BISHOP general manager of the Keeneland Race Course view portrait of Johnstown by Petro. j Petro to Paint in Oil All Winners Of Blue Grass, Breeders1 Futurity Youthful Lexington Artists i | Portraits Will Be Displayed At Keeneland Race Course By JOE THOMAS LEXINGTON, Ky., June 15.— Joe Petro, 22-year-old Lexington artist, has been commissioned by Keeneland Association to paint in oil all winners of the Blue Grass Stakes and Breeders Futurity since- the inaugural race meeting in 1936. The portraits will be displayed in the club house and the grandstand;. Painting from photographs and by personal study of the horses still living, the young artist estimates it will take two and a half years to bring the work to date. Thereafter, he anticipates completing the two race winners yearly. The Blue Grass Stakes, a 5,000 added affair, had its beginning at .the old Kentucky Associations Lexington track in 1911. It was discontinued in 1926. The stakes was revived at Keeneland in 1937 with Maxwell Howards Fencing the first winner. The 1955 renewal went to Harry F. Guggenheims Racing Fool. The Breeders Futurity also originated at the Kentucky Association track. Begun in 1910, it was staged there through 1930. From 1931 to 1933, it was held atrLatonia. Kneeneland renewed the popular two-year-old fixture in the fall of 1938 with Belair Studs Johnstown the victor. The Futurity, also a 5,000 added race, has been contested each year since then. W. C. Stephens Brother Tex won last fall. Petro, a native Lexingtonian, who now is attending the School of Medical Illustration of the University of Cincinnati, has completed five of the 37 paintings. Finished are Johnstown, Whirlaway, Education, Occupation and Oil Capitol. Educated in the Lexington public schools, the young illustrator attended Transylvania College here before going to Cin-. cinnati. While at Transylvania, he served as art editor of the Thoroughbred Record. In his present school work, he illustrates, medical journals with drawings of surgical procedures. He also illustrates textbooks with drawings of the human anatomy. With one more school year to complete, Petro is undecided concerning his future ■ plans.
