Secretariat movie, a dissapointment - Sorry but thats the way I feel

Don’t let it make you crazy…check out this link. It’s a documentary of Secretariat’s last race. He comes off the plane with just a lead rope snapped to his halter.

There’s also a ton of footage with the chain looped through the throat ring, not on the horse at all. In fact, there was less footage with the chain actually on him.

It might not be what you, or most people do, but it doesn’t look factually inaccurate for Secretariat.

Not being a Secretariat expert - or have much knowledge of his day to day life,
I was wondering how this movie would play out - I guess 50/50.

I was in the stands with my Dad and Uncle
for all 3 of the triple crown races - I remember the roar of the crowd - and you
could not hear the call — but who needed to, BIG RED was so far ahead of the rest of the pack - like he was in a different race - he had won the triple crown and it was wild that day-----

and we also went up to Canada, it was cold, cloudy and it was I think, one of big Reds last races - again he burst out of the fog and the crowd went wild - lots of tears that day along with my darn near freezing half to death.

Anybody remember the horse named Onion? Didn’t he beat big Red? Is this in the movie? Sounds to me this is more about Penny than her horse. I will still
venture out to see this movie - it will being back some fond memories for me with my Dad and Uncle who was a sports writer -

The movie ends after the Belmont, so no Onion or the rest of his career.

[QUOTE=fooler;5152192]
Now we need to write the script for a movie about Man O’ War :yes:[/QUOTE]

Yeah, now that story would make a very good movie. I’m currently reading a biography of Man O’ War. The owners, trainer and jockey all were interesting people. Plus the world of horse racing was much rougher than it is today with drugging horses being commonplace and jockeys pulling shenanigans while racing. The movie might not get a PG rating though.

Agreed - plus the fact they ran in handicap races which meant the winners had to carry more weight with every successful race.
Which book are you reading? I first read the Walter Farley version, surpising close in facts to the other 2 books: One authored by Page Cooper and Roger Treat and the most recent by Dorothy Ours. Ours’ book has detailed references as did the Seabiscuit book.

I’m reading Dorothy Ours’ book. I read the Walter Farley version when I was a kid. Ms. Ours’ book is much grittier, she talks about drugging horses with heroin or cocaine as being pretty much the norm. According to her, cocaine and ether, as an anesthetic (sp), were pretty much what kept Sir Barton running. Also, Man O’ War didn’t need drugs because he was a pretty hot horse and mean to boot.

[QUOTE=fooler;5152192]

Finally - the song “Oh Happy Day” is actually hymn re-arranged and recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers placing #4 on the US chart. Back then we listened to all kinds music so a station would play 'Oh Happy Day", followed by the Doors, the Stones, Al Green, the Carpenters, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, James Taylor, the Beach Boys, etc. Music was integrated, not segregated like today.
In short the sound track for the movie was the sound track for the time.
:[/QUOTE]

I was out of college when Secratariat won the triple crown, so yes, I would love the soundtrack since it is my era.

Although, I can’t say I remember music at least not in upstate NY being that integrated.
I’d like the soundtrack but I don’t think disney is making it, at least not yet.
thanks though.

[QUOTE=fivehorses;5153760]
I was out of college when Secratariat won the triple crown, so yes, I would love the soundtrack since it is my era.

.[/QUOTE]

I was just out of college also - and looking forward to hearing the music
selected. Someone asked me what it was like being there and seeing Big Red win the triple crown - to be honest, there was no race, only Big Red so far
head that most of the race was far far behind him. The stands were going
nuts and the roar of the crowd was ear smashing - I actually never heard the
call of this race until many years later -

I just came home from seeing it and I really enjoyed it.
Yes, there were a few moments that were a bit :confused:, but it was good entertainment.

I know now that I could never go to a race or be an owner… I can’t take the stress (even when I know the results). One thing I know though, I would love to live in VA! Those farms are very very appealing :wink:

[QUOTE=Roulett;5153968]
I was just out of college also - and looking forward to hearing the music
selected. Someone asked me what it was like being there and seeing Big Red win the triple crown - to be honest, there was no race, only Big Red so far
head that most of the race was far far behind him. The stands were going
nuts and the roar of the crowd was ear smashing - I actually never heard the
call of this race until many years later -[/QUOTE]

Isn’t that something…the roar from the crowd was that loud. What a great memory to hold on to.

I do hope disney makes a soundtrack.

I agree false impression, I was on the edge a few times, and no, I could not take being at the races…you have to have emotions of steel. When the camera stopped, I thought, OMG, and then realized, he wins but I do get caught up in the moment. I also had to remind myself he also doesn’t get injured, which is a sad commentary.

[QUOTE=fooler;5153489]
Agreed - plus the fact they ran in handicap races which meant the winners had to carry more weight with every successful race.
Which book are you reading? I first read the Walter Farley version, surpising close in facts to the other 2 books: One authored by Page Cooper and Roger Treat and the most recent by Dorothy Ours. Ours’ book has detailed references as did the Seabiscuit book.[/QUOTE]

I believe Man O’War carried over 130 lbs more than once as a two-year-old.
Not saying by any stretch that Thoroughbred racing ought to return to anything like that. It’s just illustrative of how much things have changed.

[QUOTE=fivehorses;5154210]
Isn’t that something…the roar from the crowd was that loud. What a great memory to hold on to.

I do hope disney makes a soundtrack.

I agree false impression, I was on the edge a few times, and no, I could not take being at the races…you have to have emotions of steel. When the camera stopped, I thought, OMG, and then realized, he wins but I do get caught up in the moment. I also had to remind myself he also doesn’t get injured, which is a sad commentary.[/QUOTE]

geez, you want to talk about a race that I call the race of all races.
Belmont - it’s Affirmed and Alydar and again, it’s me, my Dad and my
Uncle who is covering the event… Affirmed wins the triple crown
but the tension in the stands as those two horses came to the wire
was like ----yikes, you could cut it with a knife. I have to admit,
Alydar was my favorite. I’m not an avid race fan but have enjoyed
seeing my great races over the years - Big Red of course will always
stand out and the mostest – LOL

[QUOTE=Mara;5154250]
I believe Man O’War carried over 130 lbs more than once as a two-year-old.
Not saying by any stretch that Thoroughbred racing ought to return to anything like that. It’s just illustrative of how much things have changed.[/QUOTE]

I don’t think as a two year old, but as a three-year-old he carried 130. One reason he retired without racing at four was a very real concern he’d get packed down with more weight than any horse had ever had to carry (which was fair enough–at lighter weights he was untouchable. His only loss is largely thought to be solely the result of a VERY bad start that might have been deliberate to boot. And he still nearly won.) No one wanted to send their colts again him. He won one race by about a hundred lengths under wraps with maybe one other horse.

As for temper, Man o’ War was a kitten compared to his sire, and as for Fair Play’s sire Hastings, rumor had it he actually killed someone (and HIS dam was no lady either.) FOUL-tempered animals. But their get could run.

Man o’ War carried 130 pounds SIX times as a 2-year-old.

As a 3-year-old, his highest weight carried was 138.

With all due respect to Secretariat, the title “Big Red” will always remind me first of Man o’ War.

Shame on you people for boycotting a wonderful movie that has the potential to POSITIVELY impact our industry.

It is a movie, not a documentary. There are hundreds of documentaries on Big Red. If that is what you seek, you shall find.

The racing industry NEEDS this. It needs new interest and media attention. This in an opportunity to have attention that doesn’t involve tragedies like Barbaro or Eight Bells. If disney wants to make a feel good movie about racing, I think we ALL need to support that!

And the stewards indicated he would carry 140 to 150 lbs as a 4 year old!

Agree - ‘Big Red’ always means Man O’ War :cool:

Unfortunately my worry is that a movie about Secretariat means no one would touch a Man o’ War script for a while. “People will be confused.” (So help me. That WILL be the argument, I promise.)

Though if it does well maybe at least we’d get a remake of The Black Stallion that worries more about “faithful to the book” than “blatantly whoring for a cinematography Oscar nomination.”

[QUOTE=Holyhorseshoes;5154917]
Shame on you people for boycotting a wonderful movie that has the potential to POSITIVELY impact our industry.

It is a movie, not a documentary. There are hundreds of documentaries on Big Red. If that is what you seek, you shall find.

The racing industry NEEDS this. It needs new interest and media attention. This in an opportunity to have attention that doesn’t involve tragedies like Barbaro or Eight Bells. If disney wants to make a feel good movie about racing, I think we ALL need to support that![/QUOTE]

it doesnt HAVE to be a “documentary”, HOWEVER, it should at the very least, be about the horse that the movie was NAMED after… dont ya think? :confused:

for ME… the movie was NOT “feel good” it was very disappointing. and IMO it wasnt even about the “horse” or racing…

is having an “opinion” about a movie not allowed on this board?

IMO - the horse alone has a wonderful story. heck even the horse’s groom has a better story. and how they portrayed the Belmont race, blaring gospel music, the silly dancing / bathing outside the barn, leaving out Riva Ridge, and portraying Sham as a villain - should be a crime.

I still think, IMO - they should have named the movie “Penny Chenery and Daughter story, with a Cameo from Secretariat”… NOT “Secretariat”… but, that title wouldnt have made THEM any money, huh? Because no one would know who they were. (see my point?)

ETA - and who on earth said anything about “Boycotting”??? and what exactly is it that YOU do to “support racing?” and, who put YOU in charge of the things “we all need to support?”

You’re living in a dream world. As amazing as the horse was, the story is this: awesome horse who ran really fast and won a lot. There’s no movie in that…at least not one that is going make enough money to break even.

The movie IS in the people and their relationship to the horse.

I do think it’s bizarre that a horse is your “hero.” A horse being a horse is not heroic. It’s just a horse, no matter how great.

[QUOTE=RugBug;5155199]
You’re living in a dream world. As amazing as the horse was, the story is this: awesome horse who ran really fast and won a lot. There’s no movie in that…at least not one that is going make enough money to break even.

The movie IS in the people and there relationship to the horse.

I do think it’s bizarre that a horse is your “hero.” A horse being a horse is not heroic. It’s just a horse, no matter how great.[/QUOTE]

i guess that is also a “matter of opinion” as to who lives in a dream world. I can think of a TON of things about Secretariat that would make a great 2 hour movie about “the horse” he was more than just a horse who ran fast and won. it goes so much deeper than that. sorry thats all you have the capacity to see.

and why not have a horse for my hero? are you saying animals cannot be heros??? are you saying horses cannot be “heroic?”

my little mare saves me on a daily basis. My old QH has taken care of me on many occasions. and the horse I had as a kid was the best babysitter on the planet. my dogs once ran off an armed intruder with no regard for their own safety. heroic animals are being awarded and praised all the time.

WOW, seriously, are you also going to tell me who my personal hero should be? because the last thing on this planet I would choose for a “hero” would be any human… no offense, but, humans are just too flawed, self-serving, untrustworthy, controlling and with too many agendas, IMO… no, I will stick with the (IMO) the greatest horse who ever lived as my hero. thanks.