May 2 - Palace Malice

This was a painting that was made specifically to go into the book A Brush With Greatness. I really wanted to get a horse in the book from Cot Campbell's Dogwood Stables.

Ed Bowen and I decided the best horse for the book's purpose would be Palace Malice, a son of Curlin (I think from his first crop. Charlie Pigg would know.)

Cot passed away shortly after the book came out. Anyone who knew Cot was fortunate to have him as a friend and had the rail position for many great and humorous stories.

We have 79 horses in the book and quotes from the connections of each horse. True to form, when I put out the call to the connections for their quotes, Cot was the first to reply. Within a couple hours, we had a nice personal quote about Palace Malice regarding his relationship to Aiken, South Carolina.

Do yourself a favor and read Cot's books. I think there are three or four of them. You'll laugh and learn all at the same time.

Cot Campbell raced a horse named for my partner on the book, the former Blood Horse Editor, Ed Bowen. But really, that's not the reason Palace Malice is in the book!!!!

Palace Malice won both the Belmont Stakes and the Met Mile, which shows great versatility since the Belmont is a mile and half; and yes, the Met Mile is ONE MILE.

I could tell Cot Campbell stories all day but so could anyone that knew him and no two stories would be the same.