The Men Behind The Collection
Joseph E. Widener with jockey William Donahue, 1904. |
The Best of the Widener Collection provides a fascinating glimpse of the horses, people, and racetrack life in and around New York from 1890 to 1910. From more than 1,000 images in the collection, Eclipse Press selected 150 that showcase the talents of John C. Hemment, one of the most respected photographers of the era.
Hemment was born in Cambridgeshire, England, and was educated in a country school before attending college in Peterborough for three years. Needing to earn his own living, he found employment in a retail draper's shop. He moved to London and secured a position in a clothing house, where he learned the art of cutting and designing children's clothing. In October 1879, he arrived in the United States and secured a position in a wholesale clothing house as a cutter. His love of athletics and outdoor sports led him to become interested in photography. Having competed in skating races around England, setting records for quarter- and half-mile distances, he was fascinated with finding a way to help judges determine the winner of a close race. Purchasing a camera and a tripod, he started photographing intercollegiate football, baseball, and track-and-field events. He was convinced that instantaneous photography could be used to capture the real winner in all close athletic contests.
In 1890 Sheepshead Bay and Monmouth Park hired Hemment as the "official photographer" to take accurate pictures of the finishes of horse races. Sheepshead Bay provided a room, just above the judges' stand, for Hemment's camera and developing equipment. His photographs proved so valuable he became the official photographer for Coney Island, Brooklyn, and Saratoga racetracks. His experiments with different cameras, lenses, shutter speeds, and developing techniques set a new standard for photographing horse races. Skillful at capturing the finish, he also took his camera to all other areas of the racetrack.
Each photograph tells its own story. He took photos of such celebrated horses as Salvator, Tenny, Firenze, Henry of Navarre, Kingston, and Domino. The written word could now be illustrated with photographs to show people the real character of these horses. Paddock scenes of the Whitneys, the Vanderbilts, the Dwyer brothers, jockeys Isaac Murphy and Willie Simms, and trainers such as James G. Rowe Sr. and Frank McCabe depict both professional relationships and social gatherings. Trainers and jockeys discuss last-minute riding strategy. Owners chat with friends and inspect the competition. The stable area shows the everyday life of feeding, grooming, and caring for the horse as well as relaxation and leisure activities. Viewing these photographs takes one back to another era.
Hemment predicted that every racing association and athletic club in the country would require an official photographer. He also believed the great daily newspapers would employ expert instantaneous photographers. His predictions were right. Hemment's photographs appeared in Illustrated Sporting News, Harper's Weekly, Collier's Weekly, and New York Journal.
He did not devote all his time to photographing horse racing. In 1898 the U.S. government contracted him to photograph the wreckage of the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba. Securing several commissions from pictorial papers, Hemment packed up his photographic equipment and headed to Cuba. He documented the destruction of the Maine, camp life, and military operations. His experiences during the Spanish-American War are chronicled in his book Cannon and Camera.
We have noted owner, breeder, and patron of the Turf Joseph E. Widener to thank for this collection of Hemment's photos. Widener had in his possession seven albums of Hemment photographs. He gave the albums to Gayle Mohney, a prominent Lexington attorney. Mohney gave the albums to The Blood-Horse. Through the years The Blood-Horse has used the Hemment photos to illustrate numerous magazine articles and books. These photos clearly show Hemment's passion and attention to detail. Seen through Hemment's eyes, the racetrack comes alive, offering a glimpse at the pageantry and traditions of racing.