I started the story that became Good Things Come when I was about eight. My favourite books as a child were The Black Stallion series and Marguerite Henry’s Black Gold and King of the Wind, and while what I wrote way back then was definitely influenced by them, I was writing the book I wanted to read, which was about the Queen’s Plate instead of the usual Derby stories. I had a fascination with the Plate from very early on, and never understood why there weren’t novels about it!

While the basic premise of the story didn’t change – a couple of twentysomethings with a dream prepare a quirky young Thoroughbred to run in Canada’s most prestigious race, the Queen’s Plate – the depth of my knowledge expanded, as I grew up and dedicated my life to working with these athletes. The result is my debut novel, released this fall. If you’d like to read the first chapter, you can sign up to my list here.

Available worldwide in Kindle and paperback format though Amazon.

Look for the sequel in the spring of 2021!

Fans always seem to love a filly, and the Queen’s Plate has been good to them! Lexie Lou won both the Canadian Oaks and the Plate in 2014. I painted this 20 x 16 oil on linen from photos generously shared by photo extraordinaire Dave Landry.

This year Lexie Lou was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. She sold at the 2016 Keeneland November Bloodstock Sale, and after being bred to Frankel, was sent to Japan.

Last year, Woodbine Entertainment initiated a contest to select “The Official Queen’s Plate Artist.” I did enter, what I thought was a beautiful painting of 2014 winner Lexie Lou, and was disappointed when it didn’t make the top five – after all, painting Canadian racehorses is what I do! Anyway, such is the life of the artist – we have to know how to handle rejection, because we don’t always fit with that the powers that be are looking for. I decided to enter again this year, and went with something much more generic – a horse in the walking ring, rider up, groom leading her. I had taken the reference photo last summer at the races, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I needed to paint it. When they announced the 2016 contest – late enough that I’d been convinced they weren’t going to run it – I didn’t have a lot of time to contemplate what I was going to paint, and picked up the reference photo, already printed. I managed to get the painting done and entry made a week before the deadline, as I was travelling to San Francisco!

The notification date for the five finalists came and went, and I figured once again my work had been bypassed – though last year they’d sent out an email passing along that information. I went to check out the Plate website, and there was the announcement. Clicked through to see the top five…and there was my painting! That was a pleasant surprise! Now, the painful part begins – the winner is determined by a voting process, and shameless self-promotion is NOT my strong suit. Popularity contests are not things I win. I’d rather see work chosen on merit than on who has the most friends. That said, I’ve been humbled by the show of loyal friends who have shown their support in my Facebook posts!

Now…the title of this post doesn’t mean what you think it might. The grey filly in the painting, named Letter Fly, was bred by a friend of mine. Due to unfortunate circumstances, my friend had to sell her at the yearling sales. She ended up making her first start as a three-year old in Iowa, of all places. After showing little in those early races, my friend was able to buy her back and return her to Ontario, and she was christened “Cinderella” by the trainer’s granddaughter. Here, she’s gone from a cheap maiden claimer in Iowa to an allowance winner. She is sound and still racing as a five-year old, but when she no longer wants to be a racehorse, she’ll be safe.

So, I hate asking for votes for myself, I really do. Cinderella, on the other hand, is very deserving of them! To vote, visit Woodbine’s Queen’s Plate website, and scroll down to follow the link that will take you to the voting site. There has been a bit of confusion in the voting process – you will need to rate the options given from first to fifth. I hope you enjoy all the artwork that has made the finals!

To see the original post, please visit my studio blog.

This painting of 2011 Queen’s Plate-winning filly, Inglorious, recently sold at the CTHS Alberta Art Show and Sale on September 29 and 30, 2014. I was honoured to be juried into this show, the first year artists outside of Alberta were invited to submit work for consideration.  The painting is 16 x 20 oil on Raphael linen panel.

Original artwork is a great gift idea! Whatever you celebrate this time of year, I hope it’s happy!

~ Linda

More work can be seen on my website and my studio blog.

The painting is 18 x 14 oil on Raphael linen pane, createdl for the 2011 Hall of Fame fundraiser.

This is the finished version of the painting in my banner, above.  The painting  is a 15 x 28 oil on linen of the first time past the grandstand in the Canadian Oaks a few years ago.  I love the interaction of the riders as they find their positions early in the race.

This painting is framed and available for sale, for $1950.00, including shipping in North America.  Just email me if you’d like more information.

Here’s a smaller painting that I just completed.  This is an 8 x 10 oil on Signature linen panel of the finish of the 2008 Queen’s Plate.  Not Bourbon, on the inside, just held off the filly Ginger Brew to win the mile and a quarter classic in a thrilling stretch duel.  I’m pretty sure it was probably his tongue sticking out that made the difference!

This painting is available for sale.  If you’re interested, drop me an email!

I apologize for the long time between posts on this blog!  Seems my studio blog has been keeping me busy.  This is a 16 x 20 oil on panel that I completed last summer of 2008 Canadian Horse of the Year, Sealy Hill, one of the best fillies we have seen in recent years.  By Point Given out of Boston Twist, by Boston Harbour, she is owned by Eugene Melnyk and was trained by Mark Casse during her career.  With her in the painting is regular rider, Patrick Husbands.

Please email me for more information!

Another one of my daily paintings for November was of Mike Fox in the post parade before his victory in the 2007 Queen’s Plate.  This is a 10 x 8 study in oil on masonite panel.  It was fun to paint this horse again, especially as the light was hitting him in the photo I worked from, which allowed me to work some colour into the painting.  I used a limited palette of colours for all these daily paintings, but it is amazing the range of colours one can mix from such a simple selection.

This painting is now sold.

Thanks for visiting!