Minoru Horse (2009)

Sergei Traschenko

Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate.

Area: City Centre
Location: In the grassy area south of the Richmond Library and Cultural Centre.

Materials: Bronze, black patina

Program: Donation
Ownership: Civic
Sponsored By: The Maureen and Milan Ilich Foundation

Description of Work

A monument to the thoroughbred Minoru, owned by King Edward VII and winner of the 1909 Epson derby. The Minoru Race Track was built by Samuel Brighouse and named in honour of Minoru the horse.

On August 21 2009, the Centennial of the opening of Minoru Park, this statue was unveiled by:

-Brian Eida, son of Minoru Eida

-Graham Turnbull and Jack Lowe, Friends of the City of Richmond Archives

-Marlene German, daughter of Bob McMath

-Marjorie Knight, direct descendant of the Brighouse Family

-Heather Thompson and Vic Farmer, Milan Ilich Foundation

Acknowledgments:

The Mayor and Richmond City Council

The City of Richmond Archives Staff

The Friends of the Archives

The Richmond Museum

The Museum Society

Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services

Patron - Milan Ilich

Sculptor - Sergei Traschenko

The Eida Family

Captain Gordon Fergusson

The McMath Family

Descendants of the Wilkinson-Brighouse Family

Artist Statement

This statue of Minoru commemorates the opening of Minoru Park on Aug. 21, 1909, the first thoroughbred racing course in Richmond. It was established on a part of the Wilkinson-Brighouse property. The thoroughbred, Minoru, under the colours of Edward VII, won the Epsom Derby in England in 1909. The owner of the horse had it named after Minoru Eida, the youngest son of his master Japanese gardener.

Minoru translates into "The Enlightened One" and symbolizes the undaunting spirit of Richmond's early pioneers from both eastern and western cultures and the men and women of early Richmond who helped establish the thoroughbred racing industry in the early twentieth century.