Leonard Lusky is the project manager for the sculpture that will stand at Churchill downs on Barbaro’s burial site.

Honoring this lost champion is one of the greatest parts of his legacy, says Leonard, and he adds, “That statue will be here long after I’m gone.”

So will many of Leonard’s endeavors, which bring together the horse industry and the arts — a career he has made almost into an art form itself.

It all began when Leonard pitched an idea to Churchill Downs to create the 125th Kentucky Derby anniversary book in 1999. Born and raised in Louisville, Leonard says he’s loved the “heritage and the spectacle of the Derby” since he was a kid. The Derby book idea turned into a national deal with Time-Life, and led to Leonard meeting Ms. Penny Chenery, known as the first lady of horseracing for being the owner of the most famous Triple Crown winner of all time, Secretariat.

“Penny was a visionary,” says Leonard, “and she wanted to raise money for some of her philanthropic endeavors.” So Leonard used the idea of cause-related marketing to launch secretariat.com. The site was immediately embraced by fans worldwide, offering history and news about the horse and merchandise.

“There is an emotional attachment to these great animals throughout history,” says Leonard, citing Seabiscuit as a popular example. But with so much at stake, Leonard says it’s also easy to see why people on both sides of the racing issue are so passionate. Leonard seems to have a firm claim in both camps, caring deeply about horses as individuals and about an industry steeped in tradition and excitement.

Leonard has cultivated a significant presence here in the mecca of the horse world, and the famous quote from Winston Churchill comes to mind, “There is something about the outside of a horse, that is good for the inside of a man.”