'Secretariat' begins filming in Kentucky

ESPN ^ | October 8, 2009 | AP

[Roccus]

Yup, pretty sure it paid $2.10 across the board. IIRC, the NYRA made a nice profit from all the uncashed $2 tickets that were saved as souvenirs.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

‘wins Triple Crown.’

Guess you were too bored to notice that Seabiscuit was not entered in any of the Triple Crown races.

[A'elian' nation]

I can’t imagine a more wholesome and inspirational movie than Seabiscuit. It was beautifully filmed and crafted.

You missed the spectacular ironies of fate and chance - washed up horse trainer, jockey, and horse - all bringing out the best in one another. None of which would have happened without a RICH owner with a big heart while putting his life back together. I felt an immense spiritual glue (no offense to any horses reading this ) bringing these forces together.

Also highly recommend the book by Laura Hillenbrand.
How are they going to make an underdog movie with Secretariat?

[xp38]

The Jockey was Ron Turcotte who in 1978 had a horse racing accident leaving him a paraplegic. He is from Canada as was the trainer of Secretariat Lucien Laurin. In honour of the owner had Secretariat run his last race at the Canadian International in Toronto. Secretariat won easily. A large number of the betting stubs for Secretariat that day were never cashed.

[greeneyes]

Seabiscuit did not win the triple crown. His first couple of years or so were so unspectacular that he was actually used as a work horse after-wards.

A new trainer and jockey, and the underdog became a winner. War Admiral won the triple crown in 1937. After Seabiscuit became famous, there was a match race (I think for charity) and Seabiscuit won if I remember correctly.

To each his own. Man O War inspired the Black Stallion books which I loved to read when I was a kid. Those books got me interested in horses, and I watch the triple crown every year.

I also enjoy underdog stories about basketball and base ball.

[Immerito]

In what ways was the character of War Admiral portrayed inaccurately?

[greeneyes]

Thanks for the link. I loved watching.

[Holen1]

“BTW, in most of the stories abt the last Triple Crown winner Movie , there is one piece of the story missing .”

Someone made a movie about Affirmed?

[Holen1]

“I saw Secretariat race, unfortunately it was the one he lost.”

Secretariat lost 5 times. Once by DQ.

[Holen1]

“who was the Jockey ? (correction to previous post- not last TC winner but next to last...)”

Ron Turcotte. There have been two TC winners since Secretariat.

[Holen1]

“I saw Secretariat run the Preakeness. You could have sailed an aircraft carrier between Secretariat and 2nd place.”

Secretariat only won the Preakness by about two. You must be thinking of the Belmont.

[Holen1]

“Somewhere, amongst all my stuff, is an uncashed $2 WIN ticked from the 1974 Belmont Stakes.”

You bet on Little Current? You should have cashed it. Paid 5 bucks.

[Roccus]

Yeah, I know. I meant 74. Stupid finger...maybe I’ll cut it off to teach it a lesson.

[Holen1]

:-)

[devere]

Here’s the other two triple crown races:

Secretariat wins the Kentucky Derby in record time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06pnd8kslrU&feature=related

Runner-up Sham ran the second fastest time ever!

Secretariat’s 1/4 mil splits were 25 1/5, 24, 23 4/5, 23 2/5, and 23. He accelerated for the whole race.

Secretariat’s final 1/4 mile of 23 seconds is the fastest ever in the Kentucky Derby. Sham’s 23 2/5 seconds is the second fastest, tying 1941 Triple Crown Winner Whirlaway’s previous record.

Secretariat thunders past the field at Pimlico, accompanied here by a “Superman” soundtrack; another stakes-record time:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q46hINip3hE&feature=related

[Nepeta]

In what ways was the character of War Admiral portrayed inaccurately?

He was a tough, 'honest' horse, one of the very best American runners of the 20th century.

The movie would have you believe Seabiscuit was a rags to riches horse. Wrong. He was bred by Wheatley Stable and foaled at Claiborne Farm, which was the pinnacle of the game. [Secretariat is buried there, along with his sire Bold Ruler, and his grandsires Nasrullah and Princequillo.] He just failed to show much as a 2 y o and was sold.

War Admiral and Seabiscuit were closely related,which the movie never suggested; War Admiral was a son of Man O'War and Seabiscuit a grandson. Seabiscuit left behind no progeny of note, but War Admiral left behind exceptional daughters.

Seabiscuit and War Admiral were both highly talented racehorses. Neither was villainous.

[Immerito]

As I recall, the movie made it clear that Seabiscuit was born on a horse breeder’s farm, but was sold because he did not perform as expected.

I didn’t know that he and Man O’ War were so closely related.

[Nepeta]

As I recall, the movie made it clear that Seabiscuit was born on a horse breeder’s farm, but was sold because he did not perform as expected.

This is where Seabiscuit was foaled:

http://www.claibornefarm.com/

It is one of the very last family owned farms that has been run continuously for generations. In the 1930s, Wheatley/Phipps boarded there, and still do. Seabiscuit didn't just begin life at a breeding farm. He began at one of the best in the world.

[Cailleach]

I was at his birthplace twice last week. :)

[cjshapi]

This movie has some huge historical flaws but it’s a Disney feel good story.

The horse that actually “saved the farm” was Riva Ridge, the 72 Derby and Belmont winner. He’s totally left out of the movie, as Disney has decided the premise of the movie is that Secretariat saved the farm. Riva was a very talented runner himself, but he always lived in Red’s shadow. Penny always says she respected Secretariat but loved Riva.

Also, Penny, Lucien and Eddie were not present at Secretariat’s birth. I could be wrong but I think that job belonged to Howard Gentry, manager of The Meadow.

Even with it’s flaws though, how could any fan of the greatest racehorse ever not go to see the movie?