Actually, I did no poster in 1988. But so many people asked about the missing year that in 1993 I finally produced this “retroactive” edition. It depicts the thrilling home-stretch action — and challenging weather — of the famous Travers Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse.
I just love the colors and shapes and clusters of shapes that umbrellas create. I love how the wetness intensifies the colors and separates a throng of thousands into little intimate groups — in just minutes.
This poster as well as the 1993 Travers poster was printed on a special waterless printing press using 300-line screens. Extraordinary for the time.
Ordinarily, water or alcohol is used on a printing press to make the ink stick where you want it and stay away from where you don’t. With waterless printing, no fluids are used — it is the temperature of the ink that controls the process. It’s hard to do. But, done well, waterless printing produces wonderfully rich, intense colors, fine detail, and remarkable durability.
There is no Travers version of 1988 “Rain Or Shine.”
Production Details:
This is the 3th poster in The Colors of Racing poster series.
17" x 33" (43.2 cm x 83.8 cm) Limited Edition
(The Travers/Saratoga posters are never reprinted)
Paper: JOB Parilux Silk 115 lb. text
Inks: Four colors plus off-line varnish
Typeface: ITC Garamond
