4-2 Metro Meteor

Matt Lauer: We're back now 8:45 with the story of a horse that has a very unusual talent. Our animal advocate Jill Rappaport caught up with him in Rocky Ridge, Maryland. Jill, tell us about it.

Jill Rappaport: Okay, this horse is a rare breed indeed, Matt. He certainly is unusual. His name is Metro Meteor, a retired racehorse who ended up winning the Triple Crown off the track. Now you see, he got a loving home and a special career that's painting a very bright picture for horses in need.

Narrator: And they're off! As a two-year-old, Metro Meteor was definitely on the fast track, winning eight races from Saratoga to Belmont and in his heyday earning up to $300,000. Oh, he just blew them away!

But in 2009, this six-year-old Thoroughbred saw his last finish line due to crippling knee injuries. For most retired racehorses, the future can be bleak, much worse for the injured. But for Metro, he hit the trifecta by getting a second chance for a new life after artist Ron Krajewski and his wife Wendy adopted him.

Ron Krajewski: These horses, when they're done racing, they still have 20 years or of life to go. So think about what you're doing to the horse and what kind of a career he's going to have when he's done racing.

Narrator: And a new career he's got, donning a saddle for an easel. And his work now has his fans racing to buy up a Metro original. Waitlist only.

Peggy Rock: He's our most popular artist. I just shipped one of the smaller paintings to Japan, Canada, so many to, we've probably shipped to at least 20 or 30 different states.

Jill Rappaport: His work is in high demand.

Ron Krajewski: I know. I wish I had his career.

Jill Rappaport: Now how did you know, because you're an artist, this horse could have this sort of talent?

Ron Krajewski: As you can see, he's always moving around. He would sit and would be out bobbing his head up and down the stall. If I could ever teach him to hold a paintbrush, maybe we could do something with it. I never would have thought he would have picked up painting. Good boy, you got a few strokes out of that.

Narrator: A little Jackson Pollock, right?

Jill Rappaport: There, yeah, there's a real kind of a contemporary flare to them. Do you find that there are some days where he's more inspired than others?

Ron Krajewski: Oh yeah. There are days when I come out and then he just has a totally different brushstroke. Sometimes he's feeling violent or he's going to stroke and take it across the canvas. Sometimes he's feeling whimsical where he's just going to make little nice circles and...

Jill Rappaport: Do you think it's gone to his head a little bit?

Ron Krajewski: I think everything goes to his head. He's, he suffers from a big ego.

Narrator: And that big ego is bringing in big bucks, selling up to $500 a pop for a Metro masterpiece. And in the four months since he started, this gelding has garnered $20,000. But Ron donates 50% of the profits to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program. The rest goes to his vet bills, assuring Metro stays happy, healthy, and pain-free.

Dot Morgan: Metro Meteor has done more for retired racehorses than any ambassador. He is spreading the message that you just don't discard them when their racing careers are over. They can all do something.

Ron Krajewski: He's talented, and he's my buddy.

Jill Rappaport: Now Ron only lets Metro paint up to an hour a day a few days a week because you know, Matt, there's a very high burnout rate amongst horses who paint, so we gotta take it slow here. But it really is a wonderful message. Give these horses another life because they have so many more years to live, right?

Matt Lauer: And you, you own a couple of Metros, do you? No, seriously, do you?

Jill Rappaport: Ah, well mine's at the end. We're going to take you through. Aren't they beautiful? You can see the moods: violent, creative, whimsical, and romantic.

Matt Lauer: I don't know what to say, Jill. Thank you very much.