Saratoga, NY. – September, 2015 – Carl Bouckaert, Chairman of the Georgia Horse Coalition and owner of Chattahoochee Hills Bouckaert Farm, donates rare photograph of one of horseracing’s great women, Elizabeth Arden (born Florence Nightingale Graham) taken by one of the most famous photographers in history, Alfred Eisenstaedt.
Bouckaert is a two-time Olympic rider in the discipline of eventing. His Chattahoochee Hills Bouckaert Farm is an 8,000-acre facility that has hosted many of Georgia’s finest eventing competitions, including the Chattahoochee Hills Country International Horse Trials and the USEF/USEA 2010-2012 American Eventing Championships. He is also the Chairman of the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition (GHRC) whose mission is to legalize pari-mutuel wagering in Georgia.
“When Steve Crayne, the Executive Director of GHRC informed me this amazing photograph was being auctioned on eBay, and suggested it belongs in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, I immediately said let’s bid on it,” said Bouckaert, who is also a partner in Chattahoochee Hills Thoroughbred Racing, which owns a fractional interest in a several racehorses. “Some of my fondest memories are summers in Saratoga, and there’s no better home for this photograph.
The photograph was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt, famous for his photo of a sailor kissing his girl in NYC, signaling the end WW II. The photo depicts Elizabeth Arden (born Florence Nightingale Graham) with her racehorse, which appeared in Life magazine in 1959. Arden’s place as one of the great women in racing is forever etched in history, following her passing; she bequeathed the Maine Chance Farm property to the College of Agriculture at the University of Kentucky.
“The Museum is very appreciative of this kind gift to our collection,” said Christopher Dragone, Museum Director. “One of the Museum’s standing goals is to preserve the history of Thoroughbred racing in America and adding such a wonderful and historic image to our photography collection is something we are thrilled about. We want to thank Carl and the Georgia Horse Racing Coalition for thinking of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame by donating this timeless racing treasure to us.”
For more information about the Georgia Horse Racing Commission, visit their website at www.GAHorseRacing.org
For more information about Chattahoochee Hills Bouckaert Farm, visit their website at www.ChattHillsEventing.com
For more information on Elizabeth Arden visit http://www.elizabetharden.com/null/beauty-news-article-lady-luck,default,pg.html
For more information about National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, visit their website at www.racingmuseum.org
Media Inquires:
Steve Crayne, Executive Director | Georgia Horse Racing Coalition
770-853-0318 Steve.Crayne@GAHorseracing.org