Tony Viscardi
"A Tribute to Eight Belles"
Neon art style art piece. Art deco neon design with cool blue neon,green neon, and mixed media
"Gallapolooza Horse"
Eight Belles gallopalooza horse created for the city of Louisville's creative horse art project.
This horse's theme was "A Tribute to Eight Belles" after the Ky derby horse of the same name Eight Belles. Eight Belles (February 23, 2005 – May 3, 2008) was a thoroughbred racehorse owned by Rick Porter's Fox Hill Farms. She finished second to winner Big Brown in the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs, a race run by only thirty-nine fillies in the past. Her collapse just after the Derby's conclusion resulted in immediate euthanasia. Eight Belles now lives on through our tribute horse and is protected by her eight belles on each side. The horse now resides in the front window of the Starks Building in Louisville Ky located on the famous "4th Street Live District". She can be viewed 24 hours a day through April and then we are working on the details to make her final destination at the Kentucky Derby Museum next to the Eight Belles grave site.
Notice there are 2 bells on each ankle to add up to eight bells
The Halo
The Halo
The owners of the original Kentucky Derby Horse Eight Belles, Rick and Betsy Porter of Fox Hill Farms.
also pictured are Tony Viscardi and Ky Derby kick-off luncheon chairman Dwight "Dee" Riggle.
The horse was at the opening ceremonies of the Ky Derby kick-off luncheon were Rick and Betsy Porter
were receiving the Silver Horseshoe Award.
This horse's sponsor's are Janet Penick and Monica Guenin of Louisville Ky.
It was there vision for the tribute horse " Eight Belles" . They then asked me to design and create the Eight Belles tribute horse.
Viscardi with Robin Roberts of the ABC NEWS "Good Morning America" T.V show.
Robin was the Guest speaker at this years event. Viscardi also presented Robin with a
Robin Roberts is a breast cancer survivor and advocate for the search of a cure for Breast Cancer.
Viscardi with local celebrity and news anchor Rachel Platt of whas 11 news T.V show.
Viscardi with national celebrity Tori Murden "the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean"
Check out her new book about her adventure named "A Pearl in the Storm"
Tori Murden rowed her 23-foot boat, the American Pearl, into the harbor at Guadeloupe on Dec. 3, 1999, to end her 81-day, 3,333-mile voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.
Update: The Horse has moved to the Ky Derby Museum and now will forever mark the grave site of Eight Belles. There will be a Unveiling Ceremony on April 18th 2010. At 2:30 Pm there will be a special tribute in the Eight Belles garden with a dedication of the Gallopalooza horse in her honor. There will be a special edition poster available with signatures from Tony Viscardi following the ceremony.
Promo for April 18th Ky Derby Eventy
