The horses have just exploded from the starting gate in a huge rush of adrenaline and pent-up energy. The jockeys are working hard to coax their mounts into position. Some - the "early speed" - will shoot to the lead, while others drop back and save energy until the final furlongs. There's more shuffling going on here than at a poorly designed freeway interchange during rush hour. This is a critical part of the race, and dangerous for both horse and rider.

This painting is about how a race feels, not how it looks. To capture the energy, I relied heavily on color, purposely ignoring correct drawing and proportions. I wanted a lively jumble of jockeys and horses, the way we perceive motion in our minds, rather than a precise photographic depiction of them. Ink outlines are filled with transparent watercolor, giving the painting a luminosity which contrasts with touches of opaque gouache. The color bursts over the lines here and there, representing energy that cannot be contained. The title "Solano!" comes from the name of the county fair where I did my research for the painting. I lived close to the Solano County Fairgrounds for a decade, so I was a frequent visitor during racing.