MW Savage & Dan Patch Statue at the Library
Here is the statue of MW Savage and Dan Patch
Program for the day, June 24th, 2018
Video of the event is HERE
Video of the event is HERE
New Dan Patch, M. W. Savage statue unveiled at library
By Christine Schuster cschuster@swpub.com Jun 25, 2018
Years in the making, a bronze statue of famed racehorse Dan Patch and his owner, M.W. Savage, is now forever on display on the lawn outside the Savage Public Library.
The statue unveiling ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon, marking the close of this year's Dan Patch Days, an annual citywide celebration.
In 1906, Dan Patch set the world record for pacing a mile in under two minutes at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. His owner, M.W. Savage, housed his prize horse at a luxury farm and stable in Savage. To this day, Dan Patch is looked to as one of the greatest race horses of all time.
"I wanted both of them to be equal," sculptor Alexa King said of her design. "It's kind of a quiet moment for him. He's with his horse — this is a very famous horse but it's also his personal friend and that's what I tried to do in this statue."
Kari Lundin, the organizer of The Dan Patch Project and King's friend, had the idea for the statue years ago and knew just the right person for the job. King's other work includes the Barboro Memorial that resides in the courtyard at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby.
Lundin said that horses of the same caliber as Dan Patch are remembered in bronze all over the world. Both Lundin and King grew up with childhood memories of being fascinated by Dan Patch's history in their hometowns.
One day, in 2015, Lundin was reminded of Dan Patch and wondered if he really was as great as she thought he was as a kid.
"I picked up a book and I quickly realized that not only was he that good, he was among the greatest of all time," Lundin said. Soon after, Lundin began her efforts to make her dream of the statue a reality.
Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, and Rep. Drew Christensen, R-Savage, who worked to secure funding, also spoke at the ceremony. The Minnesota Legislature provided $75,000 to the project through the legacy funding and private donations made up the other $25,000. All donors are named, without their contribution amounts, on a plaque. Hall said he continues to work toward Dan Patch becoming the official state horse.
"I always wanted a statue of Marion Willis Savage — who is our city's namesake — so that residents and others know where the city got its name," said Savage Mayor Janet Williams.
Years in the making, a bronze statue of famed racehorse Dan Patch and his owner, M.W. Savage, is now forever on display on the lawn outside the Savage Public Library.
The statue unveiling ceremony took place on Sunday afternoon, marking the close of this year's Dan Patch Days, an annual citywide celebration.
In 1906, Dan Patch set the world record for pacing a mile in under two minutes at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. His owner, M.W. Savage, housed his prize horse at a luxury farm and stable in Savage. To this day, Dan Patch is looked to as one of the greatest race horses of all time.
"I wanted both of them to be equal," sculptor Alexa King said of her design. "It's kind of a quiet moment for him. He's with his horse — this is a very famous horse but it's also his personal friend and that's what I tried to do in this statue."
Kari Lundin, the organizer of The Dan Patch Project and King's friend, had the idea for the statue years ago and knew just the right person for the job. King's other work includes the Barboro Memorial that resides in the courtyard at Churchill Downs, the home of the Kentucky Derby.
Lundin said that horses of the same caliber as Dan Patch are remembered in bronze all over the world. Both Lundin and King grew up with childhood memories of being fascinated by Dan Patch's history in their hometowns.
One day, in 2015, Lundin was reminded of Dan Patch and wondered if he really was as great as she thought he was as a kid.
"I picked up a book and I quickly realized that not only was he that good, he was among the greatest of all time," Lundin said. Soon after, Lundin began her efforts to make her dream of the statue a reality.
Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, and Rep. Drew Christensen, R-Savage, who worked to secure funding, also spoke at the ceremony. The Minnesota Legislature provided $75,000 to the project through the legacy funding and private donations made up the other $25,000. All donors are named, without their contribution amounts, on a plaque. Hall said he continues to work toward Dan Patch becoming the official state horse.
"I always wanted a statue of Marion Willis Savage — who is our city's namesake — so that residents and others know where the city got its name," said Savage Mayor Janet Williams.
Artist Alexa King
Original members of the Dan Patch Historical Society present for the ceremony today which was established in 1992.
Mark McNeill, Janet Williams and George Augustinack (not present is Joe Cade) 
Descendants of MW Savage...members of the Savage Family present were Lucy Uphoff and Bob Savage
Minnesota State Senator Dan Hall
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Dan Patch Project coordinator Kari Lundin
Current members of the Dan Patch Historical Society today. Tausha Chamberland, Greg Lind, Will Williams, Tom Brennan, George Augustinack, Janet Williams, Vern Bloomquist and Jed Williams (not present is Lisa Jemtrud, Jim Ross and in Memoriam Jens Bohn)
Members of the Savage City Council present were City Administrator Brad Larson, Christine Kelly, Mayor Janet Williams, Bob Coughlin and Gene Abbott (not present is Matt Johnson)
Minnesota State Representative Drew Christiansen
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