Secretariat is the inspirational true story of the greatest racehorse in history and the woman, Penny Chenery, who was the guiding force behind the legendary horse. Directed by Randall Wallace, Secretariat stars Diane Lane as Penny Chenery, John Malkovich as trainer Lucien Laurin, Otto Thorwarth as jockey Ronnie Turcotte, and Nelsan Ellis as groom Eddie Sweat. [full cast list]
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Review: Secretariat earns 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Review: Secretariat earns 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
1. 'Secretariat' Filming News and Budget Info
© Walt Disney Pictures
Production on Secretarat took place from September through November 2009. The film was shot at Churchill Downs, Evangeline Downs, Keeneland Racetrack, and various other locations in Kentucky and Louisiana.
Secretariat has an estimated budget of $35 million.
Secretariat has an estimated budget of $35 million.
2. Behind the Scenes of 'Secretariat'
© Walt Disney Pictures
Secretariat Fast Facts:
- Five horses, including an American Quarterhorse, were used to portray Secretariat in the film. In order to make sure every horse captured Secretariat's exact markings, Lisa Brown painted the white socks and the white star and stripe on each horse prior to shooting their scenes.
- Real-life jockey Otto Thorwarth makes his feature film acting debut playing Secretariat's jockey, Ronnie Turcotte.
- Randall Wallace wanted to put the audience on the race track right along with the horses and so he and cinematographer Dean Semler used lightweight digital cameras on sticks. These sticks were then placed closed to the horses as they raced around the track.
- The actual Triple Crown trophy designed by Cartier appears in the film.
- According to Disney's fact sheet on Secretariat, Trolley Boy (one of the horses who portrays Secretariat) earned his job by winning a Look-Alike contest held at the Secretariat Festival in Paris, Kentucky.
- The real Secretariat's heart was more than twice the size of a normal horse's heart. A normal thoroughbred's heart weighs in around eight pounds. Estimates for the size of Secretariat's heart put it in the 21-22 pound range.
- Secretariat was born on March 30, 1970 and was put to sleep on October 4, 1989 (he suffered from laminitis).
- Secretariat won the 1973 Triple Crown by setting track records in two out of the three races (Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes ) - records that still stand and which most experts consider to be unbreakable.
