A winner was announced Tuesday in the nationwide art competition “The Art of Racing,” which celebrates The Preakness Stakes and Thoroughbred horse racing ahead of Preakness 150.
Steve Luhn’s “Winning Colors” was selected by a panel of judges from among the over 250 total submissions, the most submissions in the competition’s history.
The winning artwork was announced during a ceremony at Baltimore City Hall, with Mayor Brandon Scott in attendance as a longtime advocate and native of Park Heights. He was joined by Baltimore City Council members and leadership of the Park Heights Renaissance, 1/ST and The Maryland Jockey Club for the announcement. Other participating artists attended as well, meeting and supporting each other and celebrating the shared tradition of representing sports through art.
The fourth-annual competition opened its digital gallery for public viewing and voting on March 15 and closed on March 28, 2025. To select the winner, the ten artworks with the highest number of votes were judged by a panel that included elected officials, community leaders and Thoroughbred racing professionals.
“My representation of horse racing captures the dynamic energy and excitement of the sport,” Luhn said. “Bold, vibrant colors and striking visual elements convey the intensity of the race, with the horse mid-gallop, jockey leaning forward, creating a sense of speed and competition.”
Luhn receives a $4,000 prize and two VIP tickets to Preakness 150 on Saturday, May 17. His artwork will be featured on a special collection of Preakness merchandise. Proceeds from these sales will directly support Park Heights Renaissance, a non-profit organization dedicated to creating employment and housing opportunities in the Park Heights community.
“The platform given to artists, both amateur and professional, who have entered ‘The Art of Racing’ competition over the past four years highlights the vibrance and legacy of The Preakness Stakes, especially as we celebrate the historic moment of Preakness 150,” said Audra Madison, Director of Marketing, The Maryland Jockey Club. “This year marks a significant milestone for submissions and voting, as we see greater engagement than ever before. It brings me joy to see the diverse array of artwork entered into the competition each year, and I hope the community feels the same sense of celebration and pride as we support and uplift our local talent during this remarkable year.”
For more information on “The Art of Racing,” visit this link, or follow @PreaknessStakes and #Preakness on social media.
