Master of sporting photography, Chris Smith, has devoted half a century to capturing the drama, beauty, challenges and elation of sport. Chris began photographing sporting events in the 1960s for the now-defunct Daily Herald, winning several awards, and then joined the Observer in 1970. In 1976 he moved to The Sunday Times, acting as their principal sports photographer for 30 years. This exhibition celebrates five decades of Smiths iconic sporting photography work, with over 50 photographs including Mohamed Ali, George Best, Ayrton Senna, Seve Ballesteros, Lester Piggott, Sir Henry Cecil along with a selection from Olympic Games in Barcelona, Montreal and Moscow.

Gods of Sport is the second temporary exhibition in the new National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art which was opened by The Queen on 3rd November 2016. The new world class attraction comprises three complimentary attractions, a new National Horseracing Museum, a live horse experience in the flagship yard to Retraining of Racehorses Charity and a national gallery of British Sporting Art.

In the smaller upstairs space there will be an additional temporary exhibition named ‘Boxiana: Heroes of the Ring’. This will explore the prize-fighters from Daniel Mendoza and Richard Humphries in 1788 through to the inaugural ‘world title’ international boxing match that took place between Sayers and Heenan. The exhibition opens with the first great fight between Daniel Mendoza and Richard Humphries in 1788 and concludes with ‘The Fight of the Century’ between Sayers and Heenan for the Championship of England and America.

Don’t miss your opportunity to view these two fascinating exhibitions at the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art until 18th June 2017.

Click here for more info on the venue.