Albert Pinkham Ryder (American, 1847 - 1917): The Race Track (Death on a Pale Horse):
The painting was inspired by a horse race that took place in New York in 1888. A waiter Ryder knew wagered $500 on the race, and then committed suicide when the horse lost ... In reference to the fatal horse race, Death rides on a racetrack, but rides in reverse to the usual direction. (Ryder sometimes referred to the painting as The Reverse.) As was his habit, Ryder worked on the painting for decades, making innumerable changes, and was reluctant to part with it.
From the Cleveland Museum of Art.
