The Preakness sequence was especially touching as the family roots for Big Red to win. Shots of the family were cross cut with actual TV footage of the event, thereby giving film-goers an opportunity of seeing the real Secretariat and Ron Turcotte in a priceless cameo appearance.
At the time, everyone loved and rooted for this horse! The Belmont was an electrifying, never to be forgotten moment in sporting history. To see Secretariat open up to those 31 lengths is, most likely, something that will never be seen again.
I think that the closest examples of the American public's love affair with a racehorse was with Seabiscuit and more recently, Barbero - although there was another triple crown winner after Secretariat.
That having been said, from the scripture at the start of the film, through the contemporaneous "O Happy Day," by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and the overall themes of integrity, values, faith and love, the movie was alive with an infused sense of spirituality. Although it was Christian in nature, persons of any faith or no faith can appreciate it. Andrew O'Hehir, on the other hand, can't stand faith. He can't stand Christianity. He has no scruples concerning journalistic professionalism. He doesn't have a clear mind, and as is the case with all liberals, he is ruled by his viscera rather than his intellect.
He is to be pitied and prayed for.