Giant Horse Head Lands On Parx Casino's Front Lawn

By Pat Loeb

BENSALEM, Pa. (CBS) - Parx casino has added an internationally famous sculpture to its front grounds. The 34-foot tall bronze figure of a horse head was moved from London's "Marble Arch" this summer and unveiled Tuesday, August 21st.

Nic Fiddian-Green's horse sculptures are well-known in Europe. There was one at the London Olympics' equestrian park.

But this is the first time his work will grace an American race track. Perhaps it's cultural.

Like much of Fiddian-Green's work, the Parx new acquisition, "Horse at Water," is a disembodied horse head, which might conjure a gory scene from "The Godfather" for many Americans.

But Parx spokeswoman Carrie Nork-Minelli says the casino's owners fell in love with it when they spotted it in London and contacted the artist's gallery.

"They were actually thrilled with our interest and they're very, very happy to be in the United States on such [a] beautiful public display as Parx casino," Nork-Minelli says.

Nork-Minelli couldn't give the exact price but the sculpture was listed online for about $22,000.
As part of the unveiling, the casino also presented a check for $50,000 to the racehorse retirement program, "Turning for Home."