Artists Get More Time To Submit Freehold Horse Walk Designs

FREEHOLD, NJ — Artists have been given more time to submit designs for this year's Half Mile of Horses Art Walk in Freehold Borough - until May 12, the borough says.

The call has been put out to artists to participate - and there will be even more horse sculptures available to be placed along Main Street in this borough that is also the Monmouth County seat.

"We love that this project brought such positivity to the community, got people talking, and brought people to our town from all over to view," said Dominica R. Napolitano of the borough Planning Board.

And she said the original Friday, April 28, deadline to submit concepts has been extended to Friday, May 12.

Last year, there were 12 horses. This summer there will be six more added, Napolitano said.

As with last year, there is no specific theme for the artists to decorate the now 18 horses.

"The theme was and is to get creative designs from various artists bringing their work to fruition and on display along Main Street in our downtown," she has said.

The artist design competition packet is already published online and can be obtained by clicking this link. Artists can follow the instructions and submit a design. See Half Mile of Horses Art Walk – 2023 Artist Information Packet.

The project involves painted horse sculptures decorating Main Street, honoring the equine heritage of Freehold Borough (home to the oldest half-mile horse racing track in the county).

The goal is to combine creativity and history, the borough notes in the information packet.

Thousands of people are expected to view and engage with the installation while patronizing the restaurants and shops in Freehold’s downtown. Both sponsors and artists will be promoted in print and social media, at events and on public display with their sculpture.

Completed designs (a maximum of three submissions per artist) need to be submitted via email to freeholdboronpp@freeholdboro.org or mailed to Borough Hall, 30 Mechanic St., Freehold 07728; Attn: Dominica Napolitano by Friday, May 12, for selection committee review.

The horses will be on display on Main Street from July to October. An accompanying QR code will be attached to each sculpture base. The public will be encouraged to vote for their favorite horses. Then, a ribbon ceremony identifying the winning horses (Win, Place and Show) will take place in front of the Hall of Records in October.