The Times was back in Saratoga Springs this month for the first week of racing at the storied track, which opened on July 15. We are currently working on a piece regarding Saratoga’s National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame that will be published this fall–stay tuned for a link to the forthcoming article!

Our visit to the museum included stopping by our favorite exhibit, none other than the Pre-Civil War Gallery.

In honor of the July birthdate of 19th-century animal painter Edward Troye (July 12, 1808–July 25, 1874), we are sharing photos of several Troye artifacts from the museum.

The exhibit includes a case of mementos owned by Troye, the items ranging from paint brushes and pots, a pair of field glasses and Troye’s calling cards, to a gold watch from his patron and friend, Kentucky horseman Alexander

Keene Richards. The mementos were donated to the museum by Walter M. Jeffords, who owned an extensive collection of sporting art including a number of Troye’s paintings that were purchased from Mrs. Keene Richards in 1921–it may be assumed Jeffords acquired these items from her as well. Jeffords himself was named an Exemplar of Racing by the National Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in 1973 and is one of five recipients of this prestigious award.

Troye’s portraits of Lexington and Glencoe are also part of the museum’s collection, the first painted for R.A. Alexander of Woodburn Farm where the legendary stallion stood at stud. The artist painted Glencoe (photo above) for Richards, who purchased the imported stallion in 1857, yet the 26-year-old horse passed away later that year at Richards’ Blue Grass Farm.

Read more about Troye and the 2014–2015 exhibition of his work at the National Sporting Library and Museum in the Times’ contribution to American Racehorse, “Edward Troye: America’s Equine Artist,” online here.