Nick Martinez
Biographical Information

American 1951

As an artist and former jockey of 16 years, Martinez has a passion for painting horses, thoroughbreds, racing scenes, and a large variety of subjects.

He was born in Trinidad, Colorado and grew up 27 miles west of Cheyenne, Wyoming. His Grandfather, the only horseman in the family at the time, introduced him to horses at a young age.

Following high school, his father convinced him to delay a racing career in lieu of higher education. Martinez attended Casper Junior College, in Casper, Wyoming and majored in art. After finishing school the thought of making a lively hood as an artist, was not as appealing as becoming a jockey. He chose to pursue becoming a jockey with a passion. Three years later he was riding at Centennial Race track in Littleton, Colorado.

The next ten years were spent successfully racing thoroughbreds at major tracks in the west and mid-west. In 1983, a bad racing accident interrupted his career for a year and a half. The surgeon said his right leg was crushed from knee to ankle, and did not know if I would ever walk again, much less ride. Martinez used the recovery time constructively by taking drawing classes at a local art college in Phoenix, Arizona.

The doctor told him he would never ride again. But, the lure of the horse was still more powerful, and after a year and a half of physical therapy he recovered and returned to racing for another six years. The need to prove to him self that he could still perform as a Jockey was just too strong. At some point his racing career would end, but Martinez wanted to walk away from that part of his life with a complete heart.  In 1991 his racing career ended but he continued to be an active exercise rider for morning workouts at the racetrack. This allowed Martinez more time to pursue a career as an artist.

Martinez now resides in upstate New York, near Saratoga Springs, working full time as an artist.